From Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has disassociated himself from the violence in the South Eastern part of the country.
The IPOB leader vowed that those behind the violence leading to wanton killings of their fellow brothers and sisters and burning of properties under the guise of being IPOB members would not be spared.
Kanu told newsmen on Tuesday, immediately after the Federal High Court in Abuja denied him bail in charges bordering on terrorism slammed against him by federal government.
He noted that the violence persisted because he was being held in the custody of Department of State Services (DSS) and vowed that if released, there would be peace in the entire South- East region of the country.
According the IPOB leader, “Anybody committing crime cannot go free. I swear it. Anybody committing crime in the South East cannot go free. They are doing it because I am in the DSS custody. If I were to be outside, nobody can try that.
“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 bagger 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”, he said.
Earlier, Kanu, through his lawyer, Alloy Ejimofor had applied orally to Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja handling his trial applied that he be relocated out of the custody of the DSS to Kuje Correctional center, Abuja.
He alleged that the DSS operatives are infringing on his fundamental rights by interfering with his conversations with his lawyers and family members.
Under such a situation, Kanu said that he cannot have the opportunity of preparing himself for his defense in the terrorism charges brought against him by the federal government.
Justice Nyako however declined the request on the ground that the court had earlier delivered a ruling on the application and rejected the request.
The Judge maintained that the best option opened to Kanu was to go the Court of Appeal to challenge the earlier ruling rather than coming back with the same application.
At this point, Kanu, in the alternative demanded that the court should issue an order to place him under house arrest in any part of Abuja as he is tired of being in DSS custody for reasons, including that his health challenges were not being properly managed.
In a brief response, Justice Nyako held that Kanu will be well secured in the custody of DSS and that if he has any issue against that, he should come up formally since he is being tried in a court of record.
In a brief ruling on the request, Justice Nyako said that a similar application seeking for bail had earlier been made and rejected by the same court.
Justice Nyako held that the only option opened to Kanu is to go to the Court of Appeal to challenge the earlier refusal by the court.
The Judge also refused to give unfettered access to anybody to visit Kanu in the custody of the DSS for security reasons.
The Judge, however, said if Kanu is not comfortable with the conditions attached to visitation by his lawyers to DSS office, he should apply for variation rather than bringing fresh application.
The court adjourned trial till April 17.