*‘With Fayose, Soludo, FFK, S’East govs, others, Kanu won’t have issue meeting bail conditions’
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu remained in prison custody awaiting the fulfillment of conditions of bail granted him by an Abuja Federal High Court.
It has generally been anticipated, according to some Nigerian watchers of the situation, that Kanu would have no issue meeting those bail conditions considering the quality and status of people claiming support for him including governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Soludo and the entire governors of the South East. They have all been visiting him in his prison abode calling for his release.
Justice Binta Nyako granted Kanu bail on health grounds but refused bail to three of the defendants charged along with the IPOB leader.
The judge granted bail to Kanu in the aggregate sum of N300 million. Others charged with him are: Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
The judge ordered Kanu to produce three sureties in the sum of N100 million bail bond each.
According to the judge, the sureties must include a renowned Jewish leader in Nigeria, a political leader of Igbo extraction such as a senator, and a highly respected citizen with landed property in Abuja having a verifiable Certificate of Occupancy.
The judge also ordered Kanu to deposit his Nigerian and British International Passports, adding that he shall not grant interviews or attend rallies while on bail.
The judge demanded a monthly update on the medical status of Kanu.
“I am of the opinion that the 1st defendant needs a better health attention that the Prisons Service is unable to provide. I hereby use my discretion and grant the 1st defendant bail on the following conditions,” she added.
Ruling on the second leg of the application by the defence lawyers seeking to change the order to protect the identities of witnesses in the trial, Justice Nyako held that count one being a charge of treasonable felony is serious and deserves the protection of identities of witnesses.
She therefore struck out the application and adjourned trial to commence July 11.
Kanu was taken back to Kuje Prison by operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) to await the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
