Nigeria court grants bail to ailing leader of Biafra movement

A federal High Court in Abuja today granted bail to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) citing his deteriorating health.

Kanu has been in detention since 2015. Tuesday’s decision came on the back of an application by his lawyers after part of the charges brought against him were struck out.

The bail is the first since he was put on trial on charges of treason. The court however ordered that as part of his bail bond, the IPOB leader is to produce three sureties with a sum of N100 million each.

Kanu is also barred from being in crowds, he must not be seen in a company of more than 10 people according to the judge. ‘‘No interviews and no rallies,’‘ Judge Binta Nyako is quoted to have said.

As is usually the case, hundreds of IPOB supporters were at the court premises and they celebrated news of Kanu’s release even as he was being taken away by prison authorities to commence bail processes.

Kanu is pushing for a separate republic of Biafra nearly 50 years after a previous declaration of independence sparked a civil war which left more than a million people dead. Members of the group have occasionally clashed with members of Nigeria’s security apparatus during protests.