Ini Billie
The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has ordered the Federal Government to pay Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), N500m in damages.
Justice E. Anyadike who gave the order in Court on Wednesday, said the money is for his illegal abduction and violation of his fundamental human rights, and directed the FG to return him to Kenya, where he was extradited to Nigeria in June 2021.
The court further denied the FG’s second preliminary objection to its jurisdiction based on Res Judicata, (a matter already adjudicated upon by a competent), saying “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”.
According to the court, the Abia State High Court judgment of January 19, 2022 was in reference to the 2017 military invasion of Kanu’s home, not the 2021 extraordinary rendition.
Kanu, through his Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, had challenged the FG in court on his arrest and transfer from Kenya.
Ejimakor requested that the FG returns his client to Kenya where he was arrested or the United Kingdom (UK), where he lives.
The court gave the ruling following the Court of Appeal judgment in Abuja which had on October 11, declared his extraordinary rendition illegal and dismissed the charges against him.
There court verdict was delivered amidst heavy presence of armed security operatives around the premises of the Federal High Court Umuahia.