The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday granted bail to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony against the Nigerian State.
Justice Binta Nyako in granting the bail said her decision to release Kanu on bail was based on health grounds.
The conditions for bail reeled out by the court include producing three sureties, including a “highly respected and recognized Jewish leader”.
Aside the Jewish leader, Kanu must also produce a “highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a Senator”, as well as “a highly respected person who is resident and owns landed property in Abuja”.
Each of the surety is to deposit N100million each.
As part of his conditions for bail, Kanu was expressly barred 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.
Justice Nyako equally held that must sign an undertaken to make himself available for trial at all times.
Kanu was ordered to surrender his Nigerian and British international passports, even as the court compelled FG to return to him, his wedding ring and reading glasses.
However, Kanu’s co-defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi were denied bail by the court which has fixed July 11 and 12 to commence their trial.
Meanwhile, Kanu has been returned to Kuje Prison pending perfection of his bail conditions.
Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and Chief Femi Fani Kayode were among dignitaries that were in court for the ruling.
Kanu has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from the United Kingdom,
In separate reactions, Dr. Dozie Ikedife and first republic minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi described that bail conditions as too stringent.
Ikedife said: “It is good that they have granted him bail. This is what I have been demanding for a long time.
Ikedife said: “It is good that they have granted him bail. This is what I have been demanding for a long time.
“The next thing we expect them to do is to dispose of the charges brought against him one way or the other.
They detained him for a long time and the question is, are they going to compensate him for long incarceration?
He ought to have been released a long time ago, but those who kept him in detention did so for reasons only they can explain.
“Besides, the bail conditions are stringent. Is Kanu going to get all these people who have been burying money in various places to surety him?
Where will he find the three people listed as those to surety him?
“However, the court saying that he should not appear in a crowd is something good because his presence in such a place could lead to violence, which may have undesired effect.”
For Chief Mbazulike Amechi, “Granting bail to Nnamdi Kanu was long overdue. He is a prisoner of conscience and they incarcerated him this long because he is an Igbo man.
“He should have been granted bail unconditionally. And how do they expect him to get people with the kind of money mentioned to surety him?
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