Anxiety as court decides Nnamdi Kanu's fate today

Anxiety has gripped sup­porters of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and members of the family of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu as Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, rules on his bail application today.
Kanu and three others are on trial for various offences including treasonable felony and an act pre­paratory to terrorism.

The Federal Government had on November 8, 2016 re-arraigned Kanu along with Chidiebere On­wudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi for acts of terrorism and treasonable felony.
Ahead of the proceedings, the leadership of IPOB appealed to their supporters to hold prayers across the South East for the re­lease of Kanu today.
His family also joined the train as it made a fresh case for the un­conditional release of Kanu, who has been in detention since Octo­ber last year.
In a statement issued by Em­manuel Kanu, the family ex­plained the reasons why Kanu should be released unconditional­ly today, pointing out that no court has found any concrete proof for his detention since the Depart­ment of State Services (DSS) ar­rested him.
Emmanuel noted that from day one, the Magistrate Court in Wuse 2, Abuja dismissed the three-count charge against Kanu bordering on management and belonging to an unlawful society and finally criminal intimidation.
He also noted that the DSS quickly proceeded to the Federal High Court, Abuja and obtained court ex-parte order to further de­tain the IPOB leader for an addi­tional 90 days bordering on ter­rorist and terrorism financing but Justice Ademola Adeniyi looked into the law and discharged him unconditionally, on the ground that there was no concrete evi­dence to hold him down.
“The DSS, in desperation quickly filed different charges bor­dering on treason; how can IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who does not reside in Nigeria and has never been a politician or held any political office in diaspora commit treason?
“In addition, having failed re­peatedly in their frivolous charges against Nnamdi Kanu, they came up with final charge of conspira­cy and treason. Is that not laugh­able in the world? Where does that happen except in Nigeria where you can be creating charg­es against somebody like you are passing football from one person to the other?
“It is very unfortunate that the court of competent jurisdic­tion will accept such charges at random. The government, who are supposed to be sincere to the people will be attaching frivolous charges and allegations to some­one which they have no concrete evidence to prove beyond reason­able doubt.
“Based on this, the fami­ly members are worried why the judiciary and other wonderful men and women in Nigeria can­not stand out to redeem the dilap­idated judiciary in the face of the world by demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu unconditional­ly,” he said.