The Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing on the appeal of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to May 11, 2023.
One of Kanu’s lawyers, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Thursday morning in a short statement said the Supreme Court would today (Thursday) hear Kanu’s appeal over “the continued illegal detention of our indefatigable Client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We are very firm in our belief that the Almighty ChukwuOkike Abiama (God) will take absolute control of today’s proceedings. His Grace will prevail in judgment over today’s outing at the Supreme Court.”
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, counsel for Kanu, had asked the Supreme Court to be guided by equity, justice and good conscience while ruling on Kanu’s appeal on his continued detention by the Nigerian Government today (Thursday).
However, the court has adjourned the hearing of the appeal to May.
The appeal followed the Court of Appeal ruling and order for his unconditional release.
Ejimakor said that Nigeria’s apex court should undo the grave injustice that was done to Kanu almost two years ago, saying that injustice has an expiry date and today (Thursday) should be the expiry date.
“As the Supreme Court convenes to hear Onyendu #MNK’s appeal today, let equity, justice & good conscience guide the hand of the Court to undo the grave injustice that was done to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu almost two years ago. Injustice has an expiry date. Let today be that expiry date,” he said.
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The Appeal Court in October 2022 discharged and acquitted Kanu of all treasonable felony and terrorism charges levelled against him by the Nigerian government.
The Appeal Court also ordered his immediate and unconditional release from detention where he had been incarcerated since June 2021 when he was re-arrested in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria, but the Nigerian government has continued to detain the IPOB leader in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Supreme Court grants Request By Nigerian Govt To File Additional Appeal Grounds Against IPOB Leader
The Supreme Court has granted the Nigerian government application to file additional nine grounds in its appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal discharging detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The had reported that on October 13, 2022, the Appeal Court in its judgement discharged and acquitted Kanu of all treasonable felony and terrorism charges levelled against him by the government.
The appellate court further barred any court from trying him and ordered his immediate and unconditional release from detention where he had been incarcerated since June 2021 when he was ‘abducted’ in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria.
But the Nigerian government, more than six months after the judgment, and other court judgements has continued to detain the IPOB leader in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The government subsequently filed an appeal against the judgment of the Appeal Court at the Supreme Court, challenging its decisions.
However, when the case came up on Thursday for hearing, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Okoro, granted the request of the Nigerian government.
The judges also ruled on a motion for leave to file additional grounds of appeal moved by its lawyer, Tijani Gazali (SAN).
The court equally granted the government leave to include the additional nine grounds as part of its amended notice of appeal dated October 28, 2022, the Nation reports.
Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the leader of the team of lawyers representing IPOB, reminded the court of pending motions filed by his client, including one in which he is praying to be relocated to Kuje Prison from his current place of detention – a facility owned by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Ozekhome told the court that his client, Kanu was seriously ill and required proper medical attention. He noted that his client would have access to medical care at Kuje Prison.
Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till May 11.
