After about two years in custody, the leader of the group, Indigenous People if Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu breathed the air of freedom Friday.
His lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor who informed The Nation about the development, said his client has been formally released from Kuje prison where he had been kept
Ejiorfor told The Nation that Kanu was let out of the prison around 5pm Friday.
He said his client’s release followed. The eventual perfection of the bail granted him on July 25 by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
“I am happy to formally inform you that Kanu is out of Kuje prison. He is out. We were able to meet the bail conditions. He left the prison around 5pm,” Ejiofor told The Nation Friday.
Ejiofor had on Thursday told The Nation that Kanu’s legal team was doing all within its powers to secure freedom for him.
In her ruling granting bail to Kanu, Justice Nyako said: “I have not also not seen any new argument to warrant my reviewing my earlier decision.
“However, as it relates to the 1st defendant, the applicant has deposed extensively on his health and appeals to the court on health grounds to allow bail on any condition.
“Overtime that the 1st defendant has appeared in court, the 1st defendant may be having some health issues as he always sits down and sweats profusely.
“I am of the opinion that the 1st defendant needs better health attention that the prison service is unable to provide.
Pursuant to this, the bail of the 2nd to 4th defendants are hereby use refused. I hereby use my discretion and grant the 1st defendant bail on the following conditions.
“He shall undertake before the court and depose to an affidavit that he shall attend his trail diligently and shall provide three sureties as follows.
“All the sureties are in sum of N100m each. One of them must be a highly placed person of Igbo extraction, such as a Senator.
“Secondly, is a person highly respected and recognised religious leader in Nigeria of the defendant’s belief. A highly respected Jewish leader.
“The third surety must be resident in Abuja, highly respected, with landed property and Certificate of Occupancy verified.
“He shall deposit all his international passports, with the court. I also want a report of his health status on a monthly basis filed in court,” the judge said.
Justice Nyako directed that Kanu should not grant interviews, no ralies, and must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people.
The judge rejected bail to three others standing trial with Kanu. They Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
They are standing trial on a five count charge relating to treasonable felony, illegal possession of firearms, among others.
Further hearing in the case resumes on July 11.
Kanu was arrested in a hotel in Lagos by the Department of State Services (DSS) on October 14, 2015.
In a court document filed by the prosecution in the case, a DSS operative Temisan John, who led a team that arrested Kanu gave details of how he was apprehended.
John said the IPOB leader was apprehended in the company of a woman on October 14, 2015 at the Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel in Lagos
He said: ”On arrival at the hotel, the staff denied having Kanu in the hotel or having any knowledge of him even when shown his photograph. The hotel’s guest manifest for about five days were also printed and the name was not found on any.
“However, relying on accurate intelligence, the team decided to conduct a physical search on all the hotel rooms, leading to the arrest of Kanu in Room 303, where he was caught hibernating with a young girl named Maryam Ibezimakor, with all his broadcasting and communication gadgets set for use.
“It was then discovered that Kanu checked in under the name Nwanekaenyi Ezebuiro. He was subsequently arrested and taken to the command headquarters.”
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