The Supreme Court has set December 15, 2023, as the date for issuing its final judgement in the case fied by the Nigerian federal government opposing the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
After both parties’ lawyers submitted their final arguments on Thursday, the Supreme Court announced the date.
Recall that a Court of Appeal dropped Kanu’s treasonable felony charge and granted his release on the grounds that the IPOB leader had been unlawfully brought to Nigeria after he jumped bail.
The government, however, appealed the appellate court’s decision and asked the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling but Kanu is praying the court to uphold the ruling on his release and set aside the stay of execution on judgment.
After the federal government, represented by Tijani Gazali (SAN) and Kanu, represented by Mike Ozekhome (SAN) made final submissions on Thursday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court court headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, picked December 15 to give a verdict.
Recall that on October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal’s Abuja division ordered the release of Kanu from detention.
The three-member panel of the appellate court unanimously dismissed the 15-count terrorism charge the FG had brought against the detained IPOB leader before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It was decided that by bringing Kanu back to Nigeria by force from Kenya to pursue his legal proceedings there, the government had displayed arbitrary use of power.
Ada Peter
