The Federal Government, yesterday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, why it was not in a hurry to release the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, as it claimed that its investigations revealed that Kanu, who is seen as the brain behind recent clamour for the creation of ‘Biafra Republic’, had already received huge sums of money to purchase weapons.
In a counter-affidavit before the court, the FG said that prior to his arrest, Kanu, had already made enquiries about prices of all the weapons he intends to buy. A senior officer with the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Ayo Ibitoye, insisted that it would be in the interest of justice, peace and order, to allow the IPOB leader to remain in custody of the security agency.
Kanu, who is also the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, was on October 17, arrested in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
He was later arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja over allegation that he engaged in criminal conspiracy, managed and belonged to an unlawful society. He pleaded not guilty to the charge on October 19 and was granted bail in the tune of N2 million and a civil servant of Grade Level 16, to stand as his surety.
However, the DSS has failed to release him from detention despite the fact that he had met the bail conditions.
While the matter was pending before the Magistrate court, FG had secured an order from the high court to further detain Kanu for 90 days.
Following an application by Kanu before the high court, seeking to enforcing his fundamental right to freedom, government filed a counter-affidavit, explaining why he will not been released, despite the clear orders of the court.
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