Senator Abaribe asks court to visit Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu's residence in Umuahia

CHAIRMAN of the South East Senate Caucus Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe has asked the federal high court in Abuja to send a delegation to the home of Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) Nnamdi Kanu to ascertain what really happened to him.

Earlier on in the year, on April 24, Mr Kanu was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako and his conditions included that he produce three sureties. Among those who stood surety for Mr Kanu were Senator Abaribe, Jewish priest Immanuu-El Shalom and an accountant and Abuja resident Tochukwu Uchendu.

On October 17, Mr Kanu was due to appear in court over a suit filed against him by the federal government concerning him breaching his bail conditions. However, Mr Kanu did not show up for his trial as his co-defendants did, so Justice Nyako ordered Senator Abaribe and the  two other sureties to explain his whereabouts.

Senator Abaribe has since filed a suit asking the court to relieve him of the status of surety as he does not know Mr Kanu's whereabouts. He has also asked that the chief of army staff Lt General Tukur Buratai be asked to produce Mr Kanu in court as he believes that soldiers arrested the Ipob leader.

Yesterday in court, when the case was mentioned, Senator Abaribe asked Justice Nyako to organise a visit to Mr Kanu's home in Abia State to ascertain what actually happened when troops visited there. Mr Kanu's legal team claim that soldiers fired shots when they visited Umuahia in Abia State to arrest Mr Kanu but General Buratai has denied the accusation.

In a motion, filed by Senator Abaribe’s lawyer, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, the legislator urged the court to visit and make a physical inspection of Mr Kanu’s residence at Isiama, Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State. As part of the grounds for the motion, Senator Abaribe contended that Mr Kanu was at his residence before and all through the period of September 11 to 14, 2017 when the house was allegedly invaded by soldiers.

Mr Ume said:  “The applicant’s agent has been severally prevented by agents of the Nigerian Army as well as other security agents from accessing the residence of Kanu at Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku  as to show the court the characters of the invasion and occupation of Kanu and the eventual arrest and taking away of Kanu by the staff and agents of the Army. The applicant is desirous of the court seeing and examining Mr Kanu’s residence which has been stated as an evidence before the court.

Justice Nyako on Tuesday adjourned the hearing until February 20, 2018. It is still unclear where Mr Kanu is amid reports that he has travelled abroad, is in custody and some rumours even indicate that troops have shot him.