Tobias Sylvester
Abuja Federal High Court judge, Justice Binta Nyako has responded to a plea by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over his ‘abandoned’ trial.
Nnamdi Kanu had told Justice Binta that he was ready to return to Nigeria to continue his trial if he would be guaranteed of his safety.
But Justice Binta Nyako, told him that the only way he could guarantee his safety was to keep him in the prison.
This was what transpired at the court on Thursday, after counsel to the IPOB leader, Ifeanyi Ejiofor told the judge that his client was ready to face trial in Nigeria should his safety be guaranteed.
Ejiofor said he had since filed an application to restore Nnamdi Kanu’s bail to enable him continue his trial. He said:
“We have an application for bail filed on April 1, 2019. The application was served on the prosecution and it is due for hearing.
“We urge the court to restore his bail on the ground that the court will guarantee his safety when he comes back to the country to continue his trial.”
Delivering the ruling, Justice Nyako said the only way he could guarantee his safety is by returning him to prison, because even judges, in Nigeria these days, were no longer safe.
“Even judges are being abducted in the country. So prison is the only safest place for him,” she said.
Justice Nyako, who adjourned the matter till Jan. 16, 2020.
