BREAKING:APPEAL COURT DISCHARGES NNAMDI KANU, STRIKES OUT 7-COUNT CHARGE AGAINST HIM
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Nnamdi Kanu, the troubled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, has been released by the Appeal Court in Abuja.
The Federal Government is suing Kanu before the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 counts of offenses, including treasonable felony and terrorism, that he is said to have committed throughout his separatist efforts.
The Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try him, according to a three-person panel of the Court of Appeal, given his kidnapping and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in flagrant violation of the OAU treaty and protocol on extradition.
The court determined that Kanu was wrongfully extradited to Nigeria in a clear breach of international treaties because the 15-count charge against him did not specify the location, the day, the hour, or the nature of the alleged offenses.
The court further ruled that despite the serious accusations against Nnamdi Kanu, the Federal Government had not made public the location of his arrest.
Mr. Kanu has frequently demanded that a sizable portion of southern Nigeria secede in order to establish the Republic of Biafra.
On an 11-count indictment that included “terrorism, treasonable felony, operating an unlawful society, publication of libelous content, illegal possession of firearms, and improper importation of items, among others,” he was taken into custody by Nigerian officials in October 2015.
In April 2017, for medical concerns, he was granted bail.
However, Mr. Kanu left the nation in September 2017 as a result of a military invasion of his residence in Afara-Ukwu, close to Umuahia, Abia State.
Later, he continued to organize his supporters in Nigeria to use violence to achieve secession after being seen again in Israel.
“He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions,” Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said after Kanu was rearrested and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021.
“Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the Southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para military, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities.”
Kanu has however, denied any wrongdoing.
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