Nnamdi Kanu
Freed But in Chains: Kanu can’t go to Hospital, Church, Airport
… he must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people –Justice Nyako
It’s a house arrest –Nnamdi Kanu’s deputy
Senior lawyers including Chief Mike A. A. Ozekhome (SAN), Chief Goddy Uwazurike, and Prince Ben Onuora have said in granting the bail to Nnamdi Kanu, the Justice Binta Nyako took back with the right hand what she gave with the left, saying that bail is a constitutional right. Former President General of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike said the bail condition was draconian, strange and unusual.
“In simple language, he can neither go to the church, mosque, market nor synagogue. He can never attend a birthday party nor naming ceremony, or family meeting, neither can he go to the hospital or the airport, because in any of these places, you have more than 10 people,” he said.
Onuora, who is the President of pan-Igbo organisation, Igboekulie and Managing Partner, Benon Chambers, a Lagos-based commercial Law firm, said the bail conditions cannot be met by anybody no matter how much the person tries, saying Kanu is still in the detention as such conditions won’t allow him to enjoy his freedom as a Nigeria.
He said, “This means Kanu has not gained his freedom and I will also say that there is a strict compliant to the order of the court but talking about the conditions, it’s inappropriate for any court to give something with right hand and tend to take it with left hand. “It’s difficult to fulfill such
How do you define that gathering? Is it a gathering organised by him or the one he found himself in without will power? It means putting him in prison in another form because the liberty and freedom of movement of the citizens is guaranteed.
“How can you say that one is on bail yet, cannot go to church, market, or as a free citizen of Nigeria, go to cinemas with family?
He can’t go bus stop to take a bus because people will be much there. He cannot work because an average office takes more than 10 staff. He can’t enter bus us or fly except he will get a private jet to fly.
He can’t attend staff meeting in a situation he works because there will be more people there.
“The conditions, to me, are such that can’t be truly obeyed. Any smart lawyer will immediately and conveniently file a case against that. I don’t see how that condition can be met by anybody no matter the effort you make.
Expect, like I said earlier, that court gives with right hand and take with left hand. That’s, he is still in the detention.
“Igboekulie has its views on issue of Biafra as a course to be pursued but our position as it concerns now remains as long as a crime is bailable, and bail granted, whoever got the bail should enjoy it.
We are quite pleased that he is out to meet other Igbo people to determine the next line of action.”
More so, in an article titled, ‘‘Nnamdi Kanu’s Travails: A Bare Bail Devoid Of Liberty,’’ Chief Ozekhome said any conditions so attached to bail must be such that the grant of bail is itself, not rendered meaningless and impotent as in the Nnamdi, saying that Kanu’s bail conditions are outrightly stringent, punitive, discriminatory, profiling and stereotyping.
He noted that bail is a constitutional right, guaranteed by section 35(5) of the 1999 Constitution, with or without conditions attached, insisting that bail conditions are simply to ensure the attendance of a person in court, and nothing more but once excessive or punitive, bail loses its purpose, function and goal.
Citing Section 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution, he said, a citizen of Nigeria of a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion or political opinion shall not, by any reason be subjected either expressly by, or in the practical application of any executive or administrative action of the government, to disabilities or restrictions to which citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religion or political opinions are not made subject to.
He said such cannot be accorded either expressly by, or in the practical application of any law in force in Nigeria or any such executive or administrative action, any privilege or advantage that is not accorded to citizens of Nigeria of other communities, ethnic groups, places of origin, sex, religion or political opinions.
On his part, Deputy Director of Radio Biafra, Uche Mefor, described the bail granted the Kanu as ridiculous and a continuation of the Nigerian state’s assault on the fundamental human rights of the Biafran activist.
Mefor who spoke on Saturday from his base in London said, “The bail is as good as not being granted.
It is effectively a house arrest. It is an extension of his illegal detention. It is non-starter. They are illegal.” On whether Kanu would meet those conditions and abide by them when he comes out, Mefor said, “that is practically impossible.”
Mefor however thanked Biafra activists who have kept the faith with the Biafran movement and other supporters from around the world.
He specifically mentioned Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose and former Minister for Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode for their support. “It is forward ever, backward never,” he said.
“The Biafran movement must be pursued to its logical conclusion.”