For the first time since his incarceration, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr Nnamdi Kanu on Tuesday publicly condemned and denounced the violence and recklessness in the south eastern part of the country.

Mr Kanu who disassociated himself from the violence in the geopolitical zone 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.

He told newsmen immediately after the Federal High Court in Abuja denied him bail in charges bordering on terrorism slammed against him by the federal government that violence persisted in the region because he was being held in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and vowed that if released, there would be peace in the entire South- East region of the country.

His words: “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 counsel, Mr. Alloy Ejimofor had applied orally to Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja handling his trial that he should 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, Mr. 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 Tuesday’s 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 to 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 some reasons, among which were 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 formerly since he is being tried in a court of record.

Meanwhile, the court has refused to grant the fresh bail request made by the IPOB leader, through his lawyer on February 26.

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 was to have gone 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 counsel to DSS office, he should apply for variation rather than bringing fresh application.

Ruling on the bail application filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Justice Nyako while rejecting the application insisted that the accused person would defend himself from the custody of the Department of State Services ( DSS).

The trial judge, however, granted an accelerated hearing instead.

Counsel for the IPOB leader, Mr. Alloy Ejimakor, had at the last adjourned date urged the court to admit Mr. Kanu to bail before the commencement of the trial.

Mr. Ejimakor argued that Kanu’s health condition was deteriorating, adding that his continued detention by the DSS was a threat to his life.

He also pleaded with the Court that the continued incarceration of Mr. Kanu would not enable him to put up a good defence in the matter.

Counsel for the Federal Government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the bail application and instead, grant an accelerated hearing.

The learned silk noted that the DSS has a medical facility that could take care of the accused.

Chief Awomolo accused Mr. Kanu of once jumping bail, adding that he failed to declare on oath in the affidavit filed by his counsel that if granted bail, he would not jump bail.

Mr. Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Mr. Kanu, had on 27 January 2024 disclosed that the Supreme Court in its certified true copies (CTC) released to him had affirmed that the IPOB leader did not jump bail.

In a press release issued on 27 January ,2024, Mr.Ejimakor said the Supreme Court also explained that Kanu’s bail should not have been abrogated.

Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja had granted bail to Mr. Kanu in 2017.

Shortly after his release, Mr. Kanu’s ancestral home in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded in September 2017, which compelled him into exile, hence he did not attend his trial on the next scheduled date and thereafter.

It was in June 2021 that he was rearrested and made to appear before the Federal High Court, and has been on trial since then.

However, the Appeal Court had discharged and acquitted Kanu of all terrorism charges.

This judgment was later overturned by the Supreme Court which transferred the case back to the Federal High Court.

The court adjourned trial till April 17 .