SAN FRANCISCO, June 26, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declined an oral application for bail filed by Chukwuma Umeh (SAN) on behalf of detained Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.
Umeh, who appeared for Abaribe in the criminal case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, said at the commencement of proceedings that his client was arrested over his role in the matter.
Abaribe and two others stood as surety for Kanu, who is standing trial on charges of treasonable felony.
Following Kanu’s sudden disappearance and his absence in court, Justice Justice Binta Nyako had on March 28 ordered the sureties to produce Kanu or show cause why they should not forfeit their N100million bail bond each and jailed until they produce the IPOB leader.
Umeh, on Tuesday, told the court that his client’s arrest and subsequent detention had created tension in the country.
The court, however, refused to grant bail as sought but ordered that the senator be allowed unhindered access to his lawyer.
THEWILL recalls that the Senator was arrested by officers of the Department of State Security for supporting a proscribed group, IPOB.
