By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

Members of the House of Representatives from the South East, on Tuesday, described the refusal of the Federal High Court in Abuja to grant bail to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, as a major setback for the return of peace in the region.

The lawmakers, led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon. Obi Aguocha, who were at the court to witness the proceeding, maintained that Kanu’s release would have aided what they termed as “healing process” for the region.

Speaking on behalf of the legislators, Ugochinyere, who is representing Ideato South and North Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, said they received the rejection of Kanu’s bail application, with sadness.

He pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to invoke the relevant sections of the Constitution to discontinue Kanu’s trial.

“We received the news of the rejection of the bail with sadness and we just lost an opportunity to commence them process of healing in our land. 

“That bail application, if granted would have brought an opportunity to open doors for discussion to bring about peace in the South East.

“Just few weeks back, the federal government discontinued the criminal charge filed against Omoyele Sowore by the federal government.

“I am also aware that the federal government has allowed Sunday Igboho back home.

“It is so painful that when it is the turn of an Igbo man, the story is always different. 

“We are calling in President Bola Tinubu not to allow the moment to pass him by.  What the President should do and the Attorney-General of the Federation in particular, is to invoke the power invested on him under section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to discontinue the matter. 

“The case can be discontinued in the interest of the public and justice.

“It is also painful for us that this bail application was rejected and we hope that President Tinubu will do the needful by discontinuing the matter,” the lawmaker stated.

READ ALSO: Biafra Agitation: Why court refused Nnamdi Kanu’s fresh request for bail

Trial Justice Binta Nyako had in a ruling on Tuesday, dismissed a fresh application that Kanu, who has been in custody of the Department of State Security Services, DSS, since June 29, 2021, filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of a seven-count treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.

Speaking shortly after the court proceeding ended, Kanu, also blamed his continued detention for the violence being experienced in the South East region of the country.

He said it was unfortunate that some criminal elements have been hiding under the banner of the IPOB to carry out nefarious activities in the region.

He maintained that the security situation in the region would have been much better had it been he was a free man, boasting that no one dared to disobey his directives.

Vowing that those behind the violence in the name of IPOB would not be spared once he is out of detntion, Kanu, said: “Anybody committing crime cannot go free. I swear it!

“Anybody committing crime in the east cannot go free. They are doing it because I am in the DSS. If I were to be outside, nobody can try this.

“I suspect that some people in government are complicit. They are making money with the insecurity.

“They know if Nnamdi Kanu is outside, in two minutes this nonsense will stop.

“Who is the beggar or idiot that will speak when I am talking. That I will give an order in the East who is the idiot that I will give an order that will counter it? Nobody can! I am Nnamdi Kanu. Rubbish!.

“Anybody involved in any form of violence in the East in the name of IPOB is a goner and they know it.

“Let me come out of this mess, only two minutes, there will be peace in the East,” Kanu told newsmen.