[dropcap]M[/dropcap]rs Uchechi Kanu, wife of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has denied knowing the whereabouts of her husband.
She told the Igbo service of BBC in Londonthat she believes that Kanu who is supposed to be standing trial for treason was in the custody of the Nigerian Army.
Insisting that she is not aware of Kanu’s whereabouts, Uchechi said that she is not also aware if her husband was dead or alive.
She stated that the last time she spoke with Kanu was when soldiers invaded his residence in Umuahia, Abia State last year.
Oriental Times quoted her as saying: “The IPOB people are not sleeping. The army is going to tell them where their leader is. Keeping Nnamdi Kanu does not mean that IPOB is asleep,” Uchechi said.
“I don’t know where my husband is. If he is dead or alive, I don’t know. People that are supposed to answer these questions are the army.
“The last time I saw him was when the army came to shoot in our house. He called me and asked if I was hearing the gunshots. I heard the gunshots and started shouting and asked him what was wrong.
“He said they are shooting and he is inside the house. That was the last time we spoke.”
Kanu had been missing since September last year after confrontation with the military and had since failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who earlier gave the secessionist campaigner bail had fixed Nov. 20 2017 for his sureties to produce him.
One of the sureties, is Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe. Others are Immanuel Madu and Torchokwu Uchendu.
Nyako gave the order when Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel to Kanu , told the court he could not explain the whereabouts of his client.
NAN reports that Kanu, whose bail was perfected by the voluntary endorsement of the three sureties had since failed to appear in court to stand his trial.
Nyako said the sureties’ failure to produce Kanu would compel the court to invoke the forfeiture of their N100 million bail bond each.
“The trial of Kanu and his co-defendants was fixed for Oct.17, but reports from both the prosecuting and defendant’s counsel show that Kanu is absent.
“The sureties that helped to perfect his bail conditions are solely accountable for his presence for trial. These sureties are therefore, given time to produce him for trial.
“In the event that they are unable to produce him, the court shall go on to invoke the remaining options left to it,’’ she said.
Kanu was released from Kuje Prison on 28th March, 2017 after perfecting what was thought to be tough bail conditions.
Kanu was brought from Kuje Prison to the Federal High Court Abuja to sign the necessary bail papers.
Earlier, his lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, his three sureties, the Chairman, South East Senate caucus, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu signed his bail bond.
Justice Binta Nyako had on Tuesday 25 April, admitted Kanu to bail on health grounds.
Nyako, in her ruling said that one of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction, such as a senator.
He was also to produce a highly respected and recognised Jewish leader and a highly respected person, who is resident and owns landed property in Abuja.
Nyako ruled that each of the sureties would deposit N100 million each.
In addition to the bail conditions, Kanu was barred from attending any rally or granting any form of interview.
Kanu who is standing trial on allegations of treasonable felony along with three others, has been in detention since October 2015.
Until his arrest in Lagos, he was the director of UK-based radio station, Radio Biafra.
Kanu’s supporters had a confrontation with the military in September 2017 when suspected IPOB militants blocked the road against troops of 145 Battalion while on show of force along FMC-Word Bank Road in Umuahia town, Abia State.
According to the military the militants insisted that the military vehicles would not pass and started pelting the soldiers with stones and broken bottles.
He explained that in the process, the IPOB militants injured an “innocent Lady civilian passer-by and a soldier, Corporal Kawole Bello’’.
Both the soldier and the innocent female passer-by have been evacuated to the unit’s Medical Inspection Room and are receiving treatment, he said.
“The troops fired warning shots in the air and the hoodlums dispersed. No life was lost.’’
Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, is reported as saying that “soldiers allegedly from the Nigeria army’’ laid a siege on the country home of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu in Umuahia.
According to a statement he said the military on September 10, shot sporadically into the air through which three people have been reported dead and over 20 injured.
Ejiofor said that those who were wounded during the incident are currently in a nearby hospital in Umuahia.