NEWS

Senator Abaribe, Jewish High Priest risk jail as lawyer says Kanu’s whereabouts unknown.

Published

7 years ago

September 26, 2017

FAB.NG

The unknown whereabout of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, may have placed a serving Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe and a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu El-Shalom, at risk of being sent to prison. Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Both Abaribe who is representing Abia South Senatorial District and El-Shalom, had on April 28, entered an undertaken to produce Kanu before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on October 17 to face treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him and four other pro-Biafra agitators.

Kanu was billed to appear before trial Justice Binta Nyako to be re-arraigned on an amended five count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, alongside his co-defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie. However, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in a telephone interview with Vanguard last night, said he does not know the whereabout of his client. Ejiofor said his only contact with the IPOB leader was few minutes before the Nigerian Army “invaded” his (Kanu’s) hometown. He said that Kanu called him on phone, complaining that he was under attack from soldiers that were deployed to his compound by FG. Ejiofor who said he would not be surprised if FG decides to move against those that stood surety for his client, maintained that the burden was on the prosecution to produce Kanu in court on the adjourned date. “The fact is that they are in a position to produce him at the next adjourned date.

It is public knowledge that my client had before his house was invaded, always made himself available for trial. “He never evaded trial as he made it known that he was ready. If he wanted to jump bail, he would have done so immediately he was released from prison. But he did not run. “The last time I spoke with my client was the day his house was invaded by soldiers. He called me and complained that he was being attacked by soldiers who he said were shooting sporadically. since then, I have not heard from my client again. “If he is alive, they should tell the court on that day. They will not only explain to the trial court, but will also produce the soldiers that went to his home to attack him”, Ejiofor added.

FG had among other things, alleged that Kanu, his co-defendants and other persons still at large, had “on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in Nigeria and London, United Kingdom, did conspire amongst yourselves to broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, preparations being made by you and others at large, for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into a Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2000”. It told the court that Kanu had “on or about the 28th April, 2015 in London, United Kingdom did in a broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu, Enugu state and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C. 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

Kanu who is the 1st defendant, is facing four out of the five count amended charge. Meanwhile, as the scheduled trial date draws closer, insinuations are rife that the IPOB leader who has remained incommunicado since the Nigerian Military began its code-named Operation Python Dance II, in the South East, particularly in his state, may not make himself available “for security reasons”. This was even as a member of the prosecution team that spoke to Vanguard last night, disclosed that FG would on October 17, not only move the court to revoke Kanu’s bail, but equally apply for a bench warrant to be issued against his three sureties. According to the government lawyer who craved anonymity because he was not cleared to speak on the matter: “The position of the law is very clear to the effect that when a defendant jumps bail, his surety is made to pay for the offence upon which the trial was based. It is there in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. “If for any reason Kanu fails to submit himself for trial on October 17, we will have no other option than to apply for immediate arrest of all his three sureties. We will move the trial court to issue a bench warrant against them. “We have their full details, and don’t forget that they were made to sign an undertaken by the court before the defendant was released on bail”, he added. It will be recalled that Justice Nyako had in a ruling on April 25 released Kanu on bail after he had spent a year and seven months in detention, though the court okayed his co-defendants to remain in prison custody. The court which stressed that it released Kanu on health ground, however compelled him to produce three sureties, including “a Jewish leader” and a “highly placed person of Igbo extraction”, who all deposited N100million each. Aside Abaribe and El-Shalom, a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Mr. Tochukwu Uchendu, equally signed undertaken as Kanu’s third surety. Kanu who was arrested upon his return to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on October 14, 2015, got his sureties, three days after he was granted bail by the high court.

The IPOB leader had earlier filed a motion, asking the trial Judge to vary some of the bail conditions he maintained were arbitrary and unconstitutional. As part of his conditions for bail, Kanu was expressly barred by the court from attending any rally or granting any form of interview. “I must stress it here that the defendant must not attend any rally. He must not be in a crowd exceeding 10 persons”, the Judge warned. The court insisted that the IPOB leader must sign an undertaken to make himself available for trial at all times. He was equally ordered to surrender his Nigerian and British international passports. In his motion for variation of the bail conditions, Kanu contended that some of the conditions were directly in conflict with his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights and therefore ought to be set-aside. Aside challenging the variation request, FG, in a fresh application it filed on August 25, applied for Kanu’s bail to be revoked. It predicated the application on section 169 and 173(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Describing Kanu as a threat to national security, FG alleged that he engaged in several acts it said were capable of sparking civil unrest and anarchy in the country. It specifically applied for an order “directing the arrest and committing of the 1st defendant to custody pending trial”.

Source:VanguardNGR

Related Topics:IPOB Lawyer Nigeria Nnamdi Kanu

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Bobrisky Released On Bail After Denying 15 Million Naira Bribery Allegations

Published

18 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Reporter

Bobrisky granted bail after denying N15m bribery allegation | fab.ng

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently granted bail to Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, following his detention.

On Thursday night, Bobrisky was apprehended and removed from a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam at Lagos’s Murtala Muhammed International Airport while attempting to travel to London.

Subsequently, Bobrisky took to social media to inform his followers about his arrest, claiming to have sustained injuries during the incident.

He posted, “Nigerians, help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

After his arrest, officials transported him to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja for questioning over alleged bribery claims involving the commission.

The allegations arose when social media critic Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, released a voice note reportedly featuring Bobrisky’s voice. In the recording, Bobrisky allegedly claimed he had bribed EFCC officials with N15 million to drop money laundering charges.

However, late on Friday, November 1, authorities processed Bobrisky’s bail, and he regained his freedom shortly after. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the release on Saturday but declined to provide additional information.

A source close to the case disclosed that Bobrisky denied all bribery allegations in his official statement. He also challenged the voice note’s authenticity, urging the individual who shared it to prove the claims.

According to the source, Bobrisky asserted that no EFCC official had solicited money from him and insisted he had not offered any bribe.

Through this statement, Bobrisky maintained his innocence, asserting that the bribery accusations were baseless. Meanwhile, the EFCC has yet to comment further on the case. This leaves questions about the voice note’s origins and the nature of the allegations still unresolved.

BREAKING NEWS

Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson’s Producer, Dies At 91

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Reporter

Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson's producer, dies at 91 | fab.ng

Quincy Jones, a legendary music producer renowned for his collaborations with iconic artists, passed away on November 4, 2024, at the age of 91.

His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed the news. Jones’ family released a heartfelt statement, expressing their grief and celebrating his extraordinary life and enduring legacy.

They said,

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

They added, “We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’s heart will beat for eternity.”

Born in Chicago in 1933, Quincy Jones’s lineage was a complex tapestry of history. His mother descended from slave owners, while his father, half-white, was the son of a Welsh slave master and one of his enslaved women.

Jones’s early exposure to music began at home, where his mother’s singing and a neighbour’s piano ignited his passion. At the tender age of seven, he started learning to play the piano.

Following his parents’ divorce, Jones and his father moved to Washington State. There, he joined his high school band, mastering the drums and various brass instruments.

His musical journey took a significant turn at the age of 14 when he began performing in Seattle bars. A remarkable moment arrived in 1948 when he backed Billie Holiday, sharing the stage with a young Ray Charles.

After a brief stint at Seattle University studying music, Jones ventured to Boston to complete his education. His illustrious career, spanning over seven decades, was marked by groundbreaking collaborations with legendary artists.

He worked alongside Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and many others. Indeed, one of his most iconic achievements was producing Michael Jackson’s historic album, “Thriller.”

Check out more news updates here.

MOVIES

AMAA 2024: “The Weekend” & “Jagun Jagun” Take Home Major Wins

Published

19 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Reporter

AMAA 2024: The Weekend & Jagun Jagun Wins Big | fab.ng

The 20th edition of the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) took place yesterday, November 2nd, 2024, at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, Lagos.

This year, the AMAA 2024 ceremony honoured first-time winners and celebrated the best in African cinema. This brought filmmakers from across the globe together under one roof.

Notably, Nollywood actor Segun Arinze and Ghanaian actress Joselyn Dumas hosted the event. In addition, legendary Afrobeat musicians Femi Kuti and Yinka Davies performed, adding a unique flair to the ceremony.

A line-up of pan-African artists, including Narh Tettey, Bedwei Kwaku, and Adina Thembi, further entertained the audience.

Leading the jury, filmmaker and curator Dorothee Wenner, along with a distinguished panel, reviewed the nominated films, recognizing exceptional talent and storytelling in African cinema.

Among the major highlights in AMAA 2024, the Nigerian-directed drama “The Weekend” dominated the evening. It won the “Best Film Award” for both Nigeria and Africa.

Furthermore, Femi Adebayo won the “Best Actor in a Supporting Role” award for his performance in the historical thriller “Jagun Jagun.”

Notably, after receiving seven nominations, the film also claimed awards for Achievement in Visual Effects and Make-up.

Meanwhile, Elsie Abang earned “Best Actress in a Supporting Role” for her performance in “KIPKEMBOI.” Likewise, Michell Lemuya claimed the “Best Young Promising Actor” award for her role in “NAWI.”

In the leading roles category, South Africa’s Zolisa Xaluva took home “Best Actor in a Leading Role” for his work in “The Queenstown King.”

Similarly, Ghana’s Jackie Appiah won “Best Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance in “Red Carpet.”

Continuing the list of accolades, “Letters to Goddo,” directed by Harry Bentil, won the “Best Feature Film by a Director” award. Meanwhile, Jahmil X.T. Qubeka earned the “Best Director” title for his work on “The Queenstown Kings.”

In recognition of lifelong achievements, the Academy presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to notable filmmakers Souleymane Cissé from Mali, Nacer Khemir from Tunisia, and Haile Gerima from Ethiopia.

Additionally, Alain Gomis from Senegal and Gabon, along with Zimbabwean author and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga, received special recognition awards in AMAA 2024 for their valuable contributions to African cinema.

See the full list of AMAA 2024 winners below: