27th April, 2023
By Nehru Odeh
The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of a case of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to next month.
The decision of the apex court was revealed in a tweet by the IPOB leader’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.
Ejimakor wrote: “Sadly, the Supreme Court has adjourned the #MNK appeal hearing to next month.”
Prior to the hearing, Kanu’s Special Counsel had urged the Supreme Court to ensure justice in the trial of the IPOB leader, stressing that his matter should end today.
Ejimakor noted that since injustice has an expiration date, today (Thursday) should be the date that the severe injustice done to Kanu almost two years ago is rectified.
“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.
Also, expressing the same sentiment, another lawyer to the IPOB leader, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had expressed hope that there will be favourable judgement as the apex court is set to set on the case filed against “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.”
But the apex court dashed hope of immediate freedom for Kanu on as it granted leave to the Federal Government to file nine new grounds of appeal on why the IPOB leader should not be released from prison on Thursday.
A five-member panel of Justices led by Justice John Okoro granted leave while ruling in the motion by the counsel to the federal government, Mr Tijani Gadzali.
The apex court also granted leave to the federal government to include the nine new grounds as part of its amended notice of appeal dated 28th October 2022.
At the resumed hearing, Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, informed the court of his Motions seeking for bail of his client and another seeking for his transfer to kuje correctional facility to get proper medical attention citing his failing health at DSS custody.
He also prayed for an accelerated hearing of the matter.
However, speaking on the motion for transfer of Kanu out of the custody of the DSS, the Counsel to the federal government, prayed for an adjournment to file a counter affidavit stating that he just took over the Matter.
But in opposition to Ozekhome’s requests, the lawyer to the federal government, Gadzali, argued that the DSS detention centre has adequate resources to attend to Kanu’s health needs.
After listening to the arguments, the panel advised Ozekhome to withdraw his applications to pave way for a speedy hearing of the main suit.
It also directed Gadzali to file the appellant’s brief within six days from Thursday.
The Court subsequently fixed may 11 for hearing on the pending motion and the main appeal.
Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court against the recent Court of Appeal ruling halting his release from custody.
He appealed against the October 28 decision of the Court of Appeal Abuja which stayed the execution of its earlier order acquitting him of all charges and directing his release from custody.
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, had stayed the execution of its earlier judgement freeing Kanu of terrorism and treasonable felony charges.
Kanu has been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since he was arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June last year.
The appellate court had on October 13, 2022 ordered the IPOB leader’s release, having dismissed the remaining six-count charge levelled against him by the federal government.
However, the federal government asked the Court of Appeal to stay the execution of the judgment freeing Kanu, pending the resolution of an appeal it filed at the Supreme Court.
Dissatisfied with the court’s ruling, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, filed an appeal predicated on three grounds at the apex court.
In the appeal dated November 3, 2022, the IPOB leader sought an order of the Supreme Court setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal made on October 28.
In addition, Kanu also asked the Supreme Court to restore the execution of the appellate court’s verdict of October 13, freeing him.
In another ground of appeal, Kanu argued that the Court of Appeal erred in law when it heard and determined an application for a stay of execution of its judgment in a criminal suit.
In ground two, the IPOB leader contended that the appellate court erred when it failed to evaluate the evidence led by his legal team.
“That by staying execution of a judgment that was essentially declaratory, the lower court which ought to defend the integrity of the judicial process literally overruled itself and vacated its own judgement even before the apex court has heard it” Ozekhome argued.
The Court of Appeal in its decision of October 13, held that Kanu’s forcible extradition from Kenya to Nigeria in June last year was in violation of both local and international laws.
Consequently, the court dismissed the terrorism charges filed against Kanu before Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu has remained in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since his return to Nigeria.
With NAN report