Supreme Court dismisses Appeal Court’s verdict, declines to free Kanu

Etim Ekpimah

The Supreme Court has upheld the appeal of the Federal Government challenging the verdict of the Appeal Court which dismissed the charges against Nnamdi Kanu and held that the court was wrong for failure to try Kanu because his rights had been violated by the prosecution.

The court, therefore, nullified the judgment by the lower court that dismissed the terrorism charges against the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The court, however, refused to order the release of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

The court in its judgment on Friday, 15 December 2023 delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim and written by Justice Garba Lawal, nullified and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which in October last year ordered Kanu’s release and quashed the terrorism charges against him.

The Supreme Court held that although the Nigerian government recklessly and unlawfully rendered Kanu from Kenya, such an unlawful act has not divested any court from proceeding with trial.

According to Justice Lawal, no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking Kanu’s release on mere unlawful abduction from Kenya, noting that at the moment, the remedy for such action is for Kanu to file a civil matter against such act instead of removing the powers of courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.

The apex court subsequently ordered that Kanu should go and defend himself in the remaining 7 counts of terrorism charges against him.

Details later…