Nnamdi Kanu's sureties including Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe face arrest if he does not appear in court tomorrow

SURETIES who stood in for Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu as part of him fulfilling his bail conditions face the prospect of being arrested if he does not appear in court tomorrow for his next hearing.

Mr Kanu who was detained for nearly two years, was released earlier this year on bail but his court case where he is facing felony charges are still pending. He is due to appear before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, who will decide on one of the applications initiated by the federal government ordering his re-arrest.

However, over recent weeks, Mr Kanu’s whereabouts have been unknown following the invading of his home in Umuahia by men of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Python Dance II. If he does not appear tomorrow, the fate of his sureties will become the major issue for the court to decide.

 In one of the applications to be determined tomorrow, the federal government has asked the court to revoke the bail granted to Mr Kanu in April claiming he breached its conditions.  Mr Kanu’s sureties were Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, the chairman of the senate’s South East Caucus, Jewish priest Immanuu-El Shalom and an accountant and Abuja resident Tochukwu Uchendu.

Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, the special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on prosecution, said: “Following the military exercise carried out by the military in Umuahia, Abia state and the subsequent proscription of Ipob, Nnamdi Kanu, has not been seen and may have gone underground. So, it is not likely that he will appear in court on the next adjourned date for fear of being arrested by the police or security agencies.

“Kanu had sureties that entered into recognisance or signed bail bonds as ordered by the court that led to his release. The position of the law as provided under Section 173 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is that, a defendant whom recognizance was entered on his behalf and who is subsequently released on bail is bound to appear before the court at every time and place to which during the course of the proceedings, the hearing may from time to time be adjourned.

“It follows that if Kanu fails to appear before the Federal High Court on the next adjourned date, the judge will likely order a warrant for his arrest. The implication of the failure of Kanu to appear in court on the next adjourned date on those who stood sureties for his recognizance is that his recognizance shall be forfeited.”