…World Igbo Congress Sends Message To Supreme Court
The Herald reports that the Supreme Court will today deliver judgement on the appeal seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the of leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
A five-member panel led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun had in October fixed the date after counsel for both the Federal Government and the detained IPOB leader adopted their final briefs of argument.
On October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal Abuja delivered a judgement ordering Kanu’s release from detention.
The Court ruled that he was abducted, ill-treated, and “illegally moved” from Kenya to Nigeria to face treason and terrorism charges.
Advertisement
The judges dismissed the criminal case but Nigerian prosecutors have appealed and Kanu, who is in his mid-50s, remains in custody.
Meanwhile, the apex organisation for all people of Igbo descent in the diaspora, World Igbo Congress (WIC), has urged the Nigerian Supreme Court to unconditionally order the immediate release Nnamdi Kanu today, Friday, December 15, 2023.
WIC in a statement signed by it’s Chairman, Dr. Festus Okere on Thursday described Nnamdi Kanu as a freedom fighter and a leading advocate of Igbo interests within the Nigerian political space.
The group noted that an Enugu High Court had earlier ruled that the secretive classification of IPOB as a terrorist group by the Federal Government of Nigeria and its sub national entities violates Section 42 of the Nigeria Constitution.
It added that it is now settled that IPOB was never a terrorist entity and has remained a non violent organisation advocating for the right of self determination of the Igbos.
What You should Know About Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial
The Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a judgment on October 13, 2022, ordering Kanu’s release from detention.
The appellate court’s three-member panel unanimously struck down all 15 counts of terrorism charges that the FG had levied against the detained IPOB leader in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court said that the government blatantly disregarded established laws by forcibly extraditing Kanu from Kenya to continue his trial in the country.
The Federal Government, in disagreement with the ruling, opted to take the case to the Supreme Court.
The Federal Government also convinced the appellate court to delay the execution of the judgment while its appeal was under review.
Leave a Reply