The Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, dismissed all charges against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. Kanu was acquitted of all terrorism charges issued against him by the Nigerian government.
The Appeal Court reached its final decision through its three-man panel led by Justice Jummi Hanatu Sankey after due legal processes. The panel stated that the forceful adoption of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya for trial by the federal government was against human rights and an obvious violation of the law.
Nnamdi Kanu who is the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) was illegally extradited from Kenya through a forceful adoption.
The adoption which took place on June 19, 2021, at a Kenyan airport stirred international condemnations and tensions. Kanu was brought to Nigeria where he reportedly suffered cruelty detention in the Department of States Security (DSS) detention facility.
The Federal Government of Nigeria indicted Kanu of Seven-count charges including terrorism and other offences related to treasonable felony. The case had been at the Federal High Court which is Nigeria’s apex court as well as the Court of Appeal (the appellate court).
The second instance court stated that the illegal arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu was a gross violation of international conventions, guidelines, and protocols to which Nigeria is a signatory. And that the federal government is “obviously silent” about its extradition of Kanu without due legal proceedings as required by international laws.
The court clarified that the federal government's silence on the extradition process shows admittance to its illegality.
“Where a party fails to controvert a deposition by an opponent, the issue not contested is deemed conceded.”
“In law, that is a costly failure and such failure is an admittance by the Respondent,” the courted stated.
The court also emphasized that no one is above the law and that it would not fail to give due legal order even to the executive arms of the government.
“The court will never shy away from calling the Executive to order when it tilts towards Executive recklessness”.
In the statement, the Appeal Court also reiterated the federal government's continuous power abuse and failure to abide by the rules of law; a move it strongly condemns.
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This is not the first time Nnamdi Kanu is winning a case against the federal government of Nigeria. In April, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja already struck out eight out of the 15-count charges rendered against him subsequent to his illegal extradition. It was the remaining 7-count charges that were deliberated on Thursday which the appellate court dismissed.
The Appeal Court decision is a great win for Nnamdi Kanu's supporters and his legal team led by his lead counsel, Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
This is not the first time Nnamdi Kanu is winning a case against the federal government of Nigeria. In April, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja already struck out eight out of the 15-count charges rendered against him subsequent to his illegal extradition. It was the remaining 7-count charges that were deliberated on Thursday which the appellate court dismissed.
The Appeal Court decision is a great win for Nnamdi Kanu's supporters and his legal team led by his lead counsel, Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
The Court of Appeal's decision stands for now until any other court of higher order, like the Court of Appeal gives a contrasting verdict. Meanwhile, Nigerians are worried about the whether the Federal government who had continuously violated court orders would abide by the Appeal Court's judgement.
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