The Supreme Court is poised to deliver a judgement on December 15th (tomorrow) regarding the appeal urging the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from detention.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun leads the five-member panel that fixed the date in October after the final briefs of argument were adopted by both the Federal Government’s counsel and Kanu’s legal team led by Kanu Agabi.
Mike Ozehkome, presenting Kanu’s appeal, sought the immediate release of his client and requested substantial punitive costs against the Federal Government.
In his submission, however, counsel to the Federal Government, Tijani Gazzali, urged the apex court to uphold the amended brief of argument he filed on May 3, 2023.
He prayed the court to allow FG’s appeal, set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal which ordered Kanu’s release, and order the resumption of his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges.
Gazzali further urged the apex court to dismiss Kanu’s cross-appeal.
The Court of Appeal had previously ordered Kanu’s release on October 13, 2022, stating that he was unlawfully moved from Kenya to Nigeria. Despite the ruling, Kanu remains in custody, with Nigerian prosecutors appealing the decision.
Kanu, a former London estate agent and operator of the outlawed Radio Biafra, faces charges linked to treason and terrorism. The Nigerian government has labeled IPOB a terrorist organization, accusing it of fueling ethnic tensions against Igbos.
Ada Peter
