…Fayose, Fani-Kayode face hurdle before gaining entry into Court

…’My religions is Judaism’ – Kanu tells Judge

…IPOB leader to produce a Jewish leader, Igbo senator, as bail conditions

…Barred from public rally

From: Godwin Tsa, Abuja

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Tuesday, got some reprieve as a Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on health grounds.

Kanu and three other pro-Biafra agitators; Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi are standing trial on charges bordering on treasonable felony.

Justice Binta Nyako, who granted Kanu’s release, said he (Kanu) must produce three sureties.

During Justice Nyako’s questioning of the IPOB leader, he was asked which religion he professed and Kanu claimed he practises Judaism.

On the basis of that, the Judge also asked him to produce a “highly respected and recognised Jewish leader,” as one of the sureties.

Also, Kanu was asked to 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,” to complete the sureties.

Justice Nyako ruled that each of the sureties was to deposit N100 million each.

In addition to the above bail conditions, Kanu was 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.

The court equally held that Kanu, who has been in detention since October 14, 2015, must sign an undertaken to make himself available for trial at all times.

Kanu was further ordered to surrender his Nigerian and British international passports, even as the court compelled the Federal Government to return to him his wedding ring and reading glasses.

It was a different fate for the three other pro Biafra agitators,  Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, as they were denied bail by the court which has fixed July 11 and 12 to commence their trial.

Meanwhile, Governor, Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and former Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, were at the court to show solidarity to Kanu.

Also, the immediate past Aviation Minister, Chief Chidoke Osita, was among dignitaries that attended the court proceedingson Tuesday.

Governor  Fayose, who was decked in an Igbo chieftaincy red cap, was temporarily denied entry into the court room by security operatives.

The action of the security operatives sparked-off a mild drama, as it took the intervention of lawyers to persuade the security operatives to let the duo into the courtroom.

Fani-Kayode, who is equally facing criminal charges the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), upon his arrival at the court to face his trial, sought to gain entry into the sister court handing Kanu’s case but was blocked by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS).

It was a tensed atmosphere within the court complex which was heavily-guarded, with many pro-Biafra supporters, brandishing different Biafra insignia and flags, chanting at a distance, as they were also barred from standing within perimeters of the court premises by gun wielding security men.

Journalists equally faced tough time gaining entry into the courtroom, while a few that managed to saunter in, were ordered to surrender their mobile telephone handsets.