denied bail - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Nigerian court denies separatist leader Kanu bail, orders trial

A Nigerian federal court denied separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu bail and instead ordered an accelerated trial of a pending seven-count terrorism charge against him. Kanu, a British citizen who leads the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, disappeared from Nigeria after skipping bail in 2017. He was arrested in Kenya in 2021 and charged in Nigeria with terrorism. In December, Nigeria's Supreme Court overturned a judgement by a lower court that dropped the terrorism charges against Kanu, setting the stage for his trial to commence. "I will respond to all charges and the court will see that they are all lies,"…

Mar

2024

By NYASHA CHINGONO

Zimbabwe sect leader accused of child abuse is denied bail

NEWS

THE leader of a religious sect in Zimbabwe was denied bail after being arrested last week for suspected child abuse when police found 251 minors working on his farm and 16 graves. Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, described by police as a "self-styled prophet" appeared in court in the town of Norton near the capital Harare on Tuesday along with seven of his church members who also face charges. They were not asked to plead. Denying them bail, Norton magistrate Christine Nyandoro argued that Chokurongerwa could use his influence to interfere with witnesses and that there would be a public outcry if he was…

May

2023

By The African Mirror

Kenya court denies bail for suspected death cult leader

NEWS

A Kenyan court denied bail for cult leader Paul Mackenzie, who authorities say ordered followers to starve their children and themselves to death, and extended his detention by 30 days. The death toll climbed to 145 from 133 announced on Tuesday, and hundreds of people are still missing. Authorities are searching for remains in shallow graves scattered throughout a forest where Mackenzie's followers were living. Mackenzie, leader of the Good News International Church, has not yet been required to enter a plea after handing himself over to police last month. A lawyer representing Mackenzie, George Kariuki, has said the self-styled pastor is…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

Calls for Zimbabwean journalist Jeffrey Moyo to be given a fair trial after bail is denied

NEWS

BUSANI BAFANA AS international correspondent Jeffrey Moyo was denied bail for allegedly breaching a section of the Zimbabwe Immigration Act by helping two foreign journalists work in the country without proper media accreditation, local organisations have called for his release and for him to be accorded a fair trial. Moyo (37), a correspondent for Inter Press Service (IPS), the New York Times and other media, was arrested in Harare on May 27 and is being detained at Bulawayo Prison. Bulawayo Magistrate Rachel Mkanga denied Moyo’s bail application yesterday, May 31, stating that Moyo was deemed a threat to national security and…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

WikiLeaks’ Assange denied bail by London court over risk he might abscond again

WORLD

MICHAEL HOLDEN and ANDREW MacASKILL WIKILEAKS founder Julian Assange has been denied bail by a British judge who said there was a risk he might flee justice while the United States tries again to secure his extradition. Assange, who has spent more than eight years either holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in London or in jail, had asked to be freed on bail after the court ruled on Monday that he should not be extradited because he would be at risk of suicide. "I am satisfied that there are substantial grounds for believing that if Mr Assange is released…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Zimbabwe journalist Chin’ono denied bail after second arrest

MEDIA FREEDOM

A court in Zimbabwe has denied bail for journalist and government critic Hopewell Chin'ono after his arrest last week on charges of obstruction of justice. The arrest of Chin'ono and dozens of activists in the last four months has led to accusations that the government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa is persecuting the opposition, a charge the authorities deny. Chin'ono, who uses social media posts to criticise the government, was first arrested in July on charges of inciting violent anti-government protests. After his latest arrest, he was charged with contempt of court but prosecutors dropped those charges. He is now accused…