Government files suit against Nnamdi Kanu seeking to get him re-arrested for breaching bail conditions

ATTORNEY-general of the federation Abubakar Malami has filed a notice with a federal high court in Abuja asking that the bail of Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu be revoked as he has contravened its conditions.

On April 25, Mazi Kanu was released after spending about two years in detention but was given several very stringent bail conditions, including one that he should not be allowed to congregate with more than 10 people. Since his release, however, Mazi Kanu has been travelling around Igboland, addressing huge rallies of supporters and championing the Biafra cause.

Of late, there have been moves to douse the ethnic tension across the country but in what looks like a move to ignite matters again, Mr Malami is seeking a court order to get Mazi Kanu arrested and detained again. In the suit, the federal government has called for the arrest and detention of Mazi Kanu pending the determination of the charge against him.

Yesterday, Mr Malami issued a statement which was signed by his special assistant Salihu Isah, which listed various grounds which necessitated the call for Mazi Kanu’s arrest. According to the government, Mazi Kanu had in furtherance to the offence he was charged with,  inaugurated the Biafra Security Service, adding that such an act was a grave threat to national security and the unity of Nigeria.

An affidavit deposed to by Loveme Odubo, a litigation clerk in the justice ministry also claimed that Mazi Kanu held a rally at his residence in his hometown, Afara-UkwuIbeku in Umuahia in Abia State. It stated that the rally, which had a crowd exceeding 10 persons, was captured in a video published on June 1 and circulated around the country through internet platforms.

Mr Odubo further deposed that the bail granted Mazi Kanu was to enable him to take care of his health, adding that it was not for any other purpose. In a written address attached to the application, the government urged the court to determine whether the defendant violated his bail conditions.