The Supreme Court has supported the Federal Government’s appeal challenging the Appeal Court’s verdict that dismissed charges against Nnamdi Kanu.
In endorsing the government’s appeal, the Supreme Court ruled that Kanu must face trial at the Federal High Court. Justice Emmanuel Agim, delivering the judgment prepared by Justice Garba Lawal, held that the Court of Appeal erred in stating that Kanu could not be retried based on the illegality perpetrated against him by the Federal Government following the invasion of his home.
The Court also maintained that although the Nigerian Government unlawfully transported Kanu from Kenya, this act did not strip any court of the authority to proceed with the trial.
Justice Lawal emphasized that no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking Kanu’s release on grounds of unlawful abduction from Kenya. The Court suggested that the appropriate remedy for such an action is for Kanu to file a civil matter against the act instead of hindering the courts from continuing his trial for alleged criminal charges.
Kanu was absent from the court during the judgment, marking the latest development in a prolonged case. The verdict, delivered amidst heightened security, followed calls by Ohanaeze and others for Kanu’s release.
The leader of the proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since June 2021, arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria. He and his legal team have accused the Federal Government of abducting him, challenging the alleged extraordinary rendition in court.
Upon his re-arrest in 2021, he faced charges in the Federal High Court in Abuja, including treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, terrorism, illegal importation of radio equipment, and defamation of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The charges were later amended to 15, bordering on terrorism and membership of a proscribed group.
Justice Binta Nyako of the trial court dismissed eight of the 15 charges in her ruling, asserting that Mr. Kanu had questions to answer in relation to the remaining seven charges. Dissatisfied with the ruling, Kanu appealed to the Court of Appeal, which dismissed the remaining charges and ordered his release. In a turn of events, the court granted a stay of execution of its judgment after the Federal Government informed the court of its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court.
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By Emmanuella Ekele channels tv