Abaribe Applies To Withdraw As Nnamdi Kanu’s Surety
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to revoke the undertaken he took on behalf of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The three persons that signed IPOB leader bail bond, From the right, Tochukwu Uchendu, Jewish Chief High Priest, Immanuel-El Shalom Oka-Ben Madu and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
Abaribe who is representing Abia South Senatorial District prayed the court to discharge his as Kanu’s surety.
The federal lawmaker said he has not seen nor heard from Kanu since September 11.
He told the court that the Nigerian Army had in the course of military operations in Abia state from September 11, visited Kanu’s residence, saying it was reported in the media that there was shooting and fracas during the visit.
He said Kanu “has not been seen again nor reached on phone by the Applicant, neither is he reported in any news media as seen by any persom, nor made any statement on any issue”.
Abaribe told the court that he “lacks capacity to produce a person stated by the 1st Respondent to be a member of a terrorist organisation, or any persin whom the 1st Respondent is reported to be interested in his whereabouts including the aftermat of the military operations in Abia state which commenced about 11th September, 2017”.
Specifically, Abaribe is praying the court for, “An order of this honourable court discharging the applicant as surety of the 1st/2nd respondent, and discharging the recognizance entered into by the applicant, and to discharge the applicant from the entire incidence of the bail of Nnamdi Kanu- the 1st defendant/2nd respondent in charge No. FHC/Abj/CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nnamdi Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawisi.
“An order discharging the bond executed by the applicant for the bail of the 1st Defendant/2nd Respondent in charge No. FHC/Abj/CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nnamdi Kanu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawisi and refunding the sum of N100, 000, 000.00 (one hundred million naira only) or any other sum paid into this honourable court or undertaken to this honourable court sequel to the bail of the 2nd respondent”.
While FG was cited as the 1st respondent, Kanu and his three co-defendants were joined as 2nd Respondent to 5th respondents.
Meanwhile FG has filed a counter motion, insisting that Abaribe must produce the IPOB leader.
Meanwhile, trial Justice Binta Nyako has commenced sitting. Though Kanu is not in court, his co-defendants were brought by officials of Kuje Prison.
There is heavy security presence within the court’s vicinity.
Members of the proscibed IPOB who usually thronged the court in solidarity to their embattled leader have not been sighted anywhere today.