The Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a fresh application by Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), seeking bail pending the resolution of the treasonable felony charges against him.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Binta Nyako, the court declined to grant bail, citing Kanu’s previous escape from the country after being granted bail. Justice Nyako noted that Kanu’s sureties had asked to be discharged from the case, claiming they were unaware of his whereabouts, which led to the forfeiture of their N100 million bail bonds.

The court stated that Kanu’s only option now is to appeal to a higher court, as his previous bail requests have been denied multiple times. Additionally, the court rejected Kanu’s request to be transferred to prison custody or placed under house arrest.

However, the court ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to allow Kanu access to his legal team, up to five lawyers, on every visiting day. Kanu must also be provided with a clean place to meet his lawyers and access to a doctor of his choice.

Justice Nyako warned that any further similar applications would be considered a gross abuse of judicial process, advising Kanu to exercise his right to appeal.

Kanu was first arrested in Lagos on October 14, 2015, upon returning from the United Kingdom. He was granted bail on health grounds on April 25, 2017, after spending about 18 months in detention, and was released from Kuje prison on April 28, 2017. He later fled the country following an invasion of his home by soldiers in Umuahia, Abia State, which resulted in the deaths of some of his followers.

Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021, and was brought back to Nigeria on June 27, 2021. He has been in DSS custody since June 29, 2021. On April 8, 2022, the court struck out eight of the 15 charges against him, but the Abuja Court of Appeal ordered his release on October 13, 2022, quashing the remaining charges due to the manner of his extradition from Kenya.

The Federal Government, dissatisfied with this decision, appealed to the Supreme Court. On December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court vacated the appellate court’s judgment, allowing the trial on the remaining charges to proceed.