“It is all a part of the Fulanized Nigeria government’s plans to find people who will make noise about Biafra while their target is to harm our leader, Mazi Nnamdi KANU.”
“What we find very disturbing and inconceivable to comprehend, is why the FGN has refused to obey Orders made by a Court of competent jurisdiction, which directed them to immediately release Onyendu. Rather, the FGN has openly treated the Court Orders with the greatest disdain and impunity.”
This is despite the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, directing the Federal Government to return Kanu to Kenya and pay him N500 million.
Malami on Thursday disclosed that Kanu is still been held in the facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) due to some factors.
The minister in an interview with Vanguard said the rendition of the IPOB leader could not be used as the only basis to release him.
He further stated that it can not be used to free Kanu of other offences levelled against him by the Federal Government.
Malami noted that the Federal Government is holding onto Kanu on account of four major issues, which were preceded by the rendition matter for which the court cleared him.
Malami said, “To release or not to release Nnamdi Kanu is a function of law and the rule of law for that matter. In arriving at a decision on whether to release or not release, is one; you look at the rule of law, two; you look at the public and the national interest, three; you look at the security situation, four; you look at international diplomacy.
“Let me talk first about the rule of law. This is someone that has been granted bail on account of charges that have been preferred against him at the court. Someone jumping bail to the international community, a case of a fugitive is established against the background of jumping the bail.
“Two, arising from the national security, this is someone that is charged with treason, incitement and destruction of civil authority, murder and assassination of others on account of his incitement, that boil down to issues of national security and criminality.
“Three, on account of international diplomacy, this is someone that has against his person, used the international community or a foreign country to launch an attack against a nation, against his nation for that matter.
“So all these naturally come into play to determine what to do. So if you have through judicial processes establish multiple cases of treason, homicide, and bail-jumping among others; the fact that you have indeed succeeded in one case as against multiple others that are pending goes to establish the fact that that case cannot be the only basis and criteria for determining whether you are entitled to be released or not.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News earlier reported that the court had ordered the Muhammadu Buhari government to pay the sum of N500 million as damages to the IPOB leader over the abuse of his human rights.
In a ruling on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice E . N Anyadike, ordered the Buhari government to return Kanu to Kenya from where he was extradited to Nigeria on June 19, 2021.
The judge also ruled that the extradition of Kanu from Kenya without recourse to the legal process was a flagrant abuse of his fundamental human rights, ordering the government to stop the prosecution of the IPOB leader.
Justice Anyadike ruled that the government could not disprove the claims of the applicant that he was arrested, blindfolded, tortured, and chained to the ground for eight days in Kenya before his extradition to Nigeria.
In a chat with reporters after the judgment, Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor said the judgment had shown that the court still remains the last hope for the common man.
Ejimakor, therefore, called on the federal government to obey the court order and return Kanu to Kenya.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News reports that the Court also ordered the Federal government to return him to Kenya from where he was extradited to Nigeria on June 19, 2021.
The Court presided by Justice E . N Anyadike, insisted that the extradition of Kanu from Kenya without recourse to the legal process was a flagrant abuse of his fundamental human rights, ordering the Federal Government to stop the prosecution of the IPOB leader.
Justice Anyadike ruled that the government could not disprove the claims of the applicant that he was arrested, blindfolded, tortured, and chained to the ground for eight days in Kenya before his extradition to Nigeria.
Nnamdi Kanu’s special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had approached the court challenging his extradition from Kenya on June 19, 2022.
Ejimakor told the court that the suit is sui generis (of a special class) and was primarily aimed at redressing the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Kanu, which is a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.
He said, “In addition to the rendition, I am asking the Court to redress the myriad violations that came with the rendition, such as the torture, the unlawful detention and the denial of the right to fair hearing which is required by law before anybody can be expelled from one country to the other.
“I am also seeking to halt his prosecution and restore him to the status quo before his rendition on 19th June 2021.
“You will recall that on January 19, 2022, the High Court of Abia State decided that portion of violation of Kanu’s fundamental rights that occurred in 2017. Even as I had made claims that bordered on rendition, the Court declined jurisdiction on grounds that rendition, being related to extradition, lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. This is what informed my decision to initiate the suit before the Federal High Court.
“To be sure, the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, triggered myriad legal questions that cut across multiple jurisdictions in Nigeria and even triggered the international legal order, to boot. In other words, the rendition has expanded the matter of Kanu far beyond the realms of the Abuja trial and opened up new legal frontiers that must be ventilated to the hilt before other courts and tribunals within and without Nigeria.
“Thus, this very case before the Federal High Court in Umuahia is one of such that is aimed at seeking a definitive judicial pronouncement on the constitutionality of the extraordinary rendition. The ones in the United Kingdom, Kenya, African Union, and the United Nations are in addition.
“I would like to seize this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to the highly competent and hardworking team of lawyers that I am leading in the prosecution of this complex suit. Special mention must be made of Barristers Patrick Agazie, Ifeyinwa Nworgu, Tochukwu Arugbuonye, Franklin Amandi, Ohaeto Uwazie and Mandela Umegborogu”.
“For ease of reference and avoidance of any doubt, the following are the specific reliefs that I requested in the Suit”.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Recall that the Appeal Court had discharged Kanu of the charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government, in a fresh affidavit filed before the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, maintained that Kanu posed a flight risk.
According to the Federal Government, the IPOB leader would escape from the country as soon as he is released from detention.
The affidavit was attached in support of an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court verdict that quashed the entire 15-count terrorism charge the federal government leveled against Nnamdi Kanu.
An Assistant State Counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, David Kaswe on Monday told the court that the case against Kanu bordered on national security.
Kaswe stated that the fundamental rights of Kanu should not supersede the interest of the nation.
The federal government argued that once a case touched on national security, the right of the individual affected took a secondary place.
Kaswe said, “It is important to appreciate the gamut of depositions in our application. The Respondent is a flight risk person and one of the grounds of our application is that this matter touches on the national security of the state.
“We further rely on the case of FRN Vs Dokubo, where the Supreme Court held that where national security is threatened or when there is the likelihood of it being threatened, human rights take a secondary place.
“Once there is a threat to national security, the human rights of any individual can be suspended until the such threat is taken care of.
“Once the security of the nation is in jeopardy, the individual right may not even exist.”
He added that the intelligence report revealed that the security situation in the South East would get worse if Kanu is released from detention.
Kaswe noted, “The defendant has shown that he has the capacity to jump bail or to escape from lawful custody. There is reasonable intelligence that the enforcement of the judgement of this court, pending the determination of our appeal at the Supreme Court, may impact negatively on the declining security in the South East.
“No court can close its eyes on activities happening around it. As we speak, the entire social media is awash with threats to security in the country.
“We believe that there is an exceptional circumstance to warrant this court to grant our application.
“We urge this court to resolve the sole issue we raised and find our application meritorious, in the interest of justice and unity of the country.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News reports that a Court of Appeal had on October 13 discharged the IPOB leader, faulting Buhari’s government’s decision to extraordinarily extradite the pro-Biafra activist from Kenya.
Not satisfied with the Appeal Court’s ruling, the Federal Government has approached the Supreme Court to set aside the discharge and acquittal of Kanu.
However, it was gathered that the President General of the apex Igbo body, Prof. George Obiozor, has reached out to the Presidency for a possible meeting.
Recall that Buhari had, in previous meetings with delegations of Igbo elders, told them that he would not interfere with the judicial process, urging them to allow the court to decide Kanu’s fate.
Two Igbo elders, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and first republic minister of aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, in separate interviews with Daily Sun, hinted of behind the scene moves to secure Kanu’s release.
Amechi refused to comment on the appeal at the apex court by the Federal Government because there are arrangements for a political solution ongoing.
“That is why I have not talked about it; we are pursuing a political solution with the presidency. I would not like to pre-empt what would be the outcome of the discussion,” he said.
On his part, Ezeife also expressed optimism that Kanu would soon be a free man, stressing that the Court of Appeal judgment in favour of the self-determination activist was in line with the current spirit of a new Nigeria sweeping across the country.
“Igbo elders are planning to go to the President. If it means for me to kneel down in front of everybody, I will kneel for him. If he wants me to prostrate, I will prostrate but let him release Nnamdi Kanu, and let’s silence some of the people who are fighting against the resurgence of Nigeria and the blacks.
“I must tell you that our leader, Professor George Obiozor; the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, called me the same day when the issue came up and said he is preparing for us to go to the president and persuade him to do the right thing and I told him that I am ready. Very soon, we will organize that appointment, and we will go to the president,” the elder statesman stated.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Reports reaching Naija News on Sunday revealed that the alleged criminals were neutralized in recent raids by the security operatives who were going about combing some criminal hideouts in the state.
Confirming the development in a statement issued today, the Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chris Anyanwu, revealed that three IPOB suspects in the command’s custody leaked some information that aided the success of the recent raids.
According to the police spokesman, the operation, spearheaded by the Command’s Tactical teams and assisted by the Military and DSS in the State, was prompted by the reliable evidence gotten from the interrogation of Nnamdi Ngwuta Obaji aka State Commander No. 3 and another operative of the outlawed group, Felix Ogudu who were earlier arrested.
Anyanwu added: “While accessing/cordoning the Camps, the combined teams were ambushed by the criminal elements with rains of sporadic shooting in their direction and without hesitation, the allied team swiftly responded and engaged them in the same manner and of course, their superior firepower subdued the miscreants, who chanted morale-boasting war songs, dived into the Opeke River and swarm to different directions as they scampered for safety.
“However, a good number of them were neutralized while many escaped with bullet injuries. Also, after dislodging the criminal elements and taking over the ground, the camp, which they christened ‘IGBO BU IGBO TRAINING SCHOOL CAMP’, was ransacked and destroyed. Equally, a wooden bridge under construction intended to aid the miscreants in their coming and going was dismantled.”
Items recovered from the gang according to Anyawu were 11 bullet-proof jackets, eight sets of Military camouflage uniforms, two camp-gas cookers, 110 rounds of FNC live ammunition, 40 rounds of GPMG live ammunition, and two PRO electronics scanners (EOD equipment).
Other items include five empty canons, five single-barrel guns, nine assorted GSM handsets, three locally-fabricated revolver pistols, one white Toyota Hilux vehicle, a bunch of keys, three NIN slips bearing different names, one exercise book with coded names/GSM numbers of the suspects, one voter’s card, three hammers, two assault rifle butts, 25 camping mosquito nets and charms, Naija News understands.
Anyawu further revealed that one Mercedes Benz 190 car with Reg No. SKA 306 AA, one Biafran-map calendar and other things, were also recovered from the raid.
He established that a good number of the criminals were neutralized, noting that the gang was also suspected to have taken part in the attack of the Provost of Federal College of Education, Isu Onicha along the Agba axis a few days ago.
This article was originally published on Naija News
On Thursday, October 13, the Court of Appeal in Abuja struck out the terrorism charges which the Nigerian government filed against Kanu and ordered his release from the State Security Service custody. The definitive verdict faulted the process through which the IPOB leader was brought before the court to answer to a 15-count terrorism charge. It held that Kanu’s abduction and rendition from Kenya violated the international convention on terrorism, thus, robbed any Nigerian court of the necessary jurisdiction.
In their audacious judgment, the three-man panel of the Appellate Court pointed out that the Federal Government, in its desperation to bundle the secessionist leader back home from Kenya, flagrantly breached every extradition procedure, which include a formal application for extradition to the host country, permission from the court, and statement of the alleged offences in connection with the extradition.
The Nigerian government, after Kanu’s rendition, arraigned him before Justice Binta Nyako on a 15-count terrorism charge, which the judge reduced to seven. The accused however faulted Nyako’s order to respond to the seven charges and went on Appeal where his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN, recalled that on June 27, 2021, the Federal Government forcefully arrested and renditioned Kanu in a “most cruel and inhuman manner”.
Delivering its ruling, the Appeal Court upheld that the IPOB leader was “extra-ordinarily renditioned” to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the country’s extradition treaty and a breach of his fundamental human rights. “By engaging in utter unlawful and illegal acts and in breach of its own laws in the instant matter, the Federal Government did not come to equity in clean hands and must be called to order. With appalling disregard to local and international laws, the Federal Government has lost the right to put the appellant trial for any offence,” read part of the lead judgment delivered by Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie.
Hinting almost immediately that the Buhari government won’t release Kanu despite this ruling, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami SAN, argued that the Court of Appeal only discharged Kanu without acquitting him. “Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predate rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination. The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues,” Malami said. But disagreeing with the AGF’s position, Ozekhome asserted that, “Nnamdi Kanu was set free and discharged by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court has said such a discharge amounts to discharge and acquittal”.
The National Security Council (NSC) has since aligned with the Attorney-General of the Federation on this issue. This happened in their last meeting attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; SGF Boss Mustapha, NSA Babagana Monguno; the President’s Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari; Defence minister Bashir Magashi; Interior minister Rauf Aregbesola; Defence chief Lucky Irabor; Army chief Farouk Yahaya; Naval chief Awwal Gambo; Air chief Oladayo Amao, IGP Usman Baba; DSS DG Yusuf Bichi; NIA DG Ahmed Abubakar; CDI Samuel Adedayo. If only there was a true reflection of the federal character in the gathering. The administration’s politics of exclusion ensures that no South-Easterner seats on the national security council, yet the President can’t see what is fuelling the discontent in Igboland.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of their deliberations, the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi said, “the issue of Kanu has also been raised and Council was briefed on the state of things on the matter. And it was observed that Kanu was discharged but he is not acquitted. So, the government is considering the appropriate action to be taken on the matter.” How safer Nigeria would have been if the same hawkish stance is taken against terrorists and bandits who have made a living hell out of Nigeria!
Nigerians have since got the memo with the report that the Federal Government has filed seven grounds of appeal against the judgment, asking the Supreme Court to set aside the appellate court ruling and restore the charge against the respondent to be tried at the trial court. The government, in a motion on notice in support of the appeal, is also seeking a stay of execution of the judgment of the court presided over by Justice Jummai Sankey, pending the hearing and final determination of its appeal.
We find it duplicitous for this to be coming from the same government which argued elsewhere that ASUU cannot institute any application for a stay of execution without first obeying the court ruling that ordered its members back to the classrooms.
Naija News regrets that President Muhammadu Buhari is passing off a golden opportunity to save face and restore peace to the troubled South-East. The geopolitical zone has been reeling from the sit-at-home order that is religiously observed there every Monday. A good majority of those who celebrated the appellate court ruling did so not because they are sympathetic to the IPOB Leader but due to the hope of having their lives back without the curtailing of their movement and business any day of the week. It is sad that the President is taking these hopes from them, not minding the huge economic losses the country suffers every Monday when there is civil disobedience East of the Niger.
Strident calls have gone out for Buhari to embrace a political solution to the Nnamdi Kanu problem, which pundits believe his government created in the first place. Earlier in July, the United Nations, UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, indicted both the Nigerian and Kenyan governments for the arrest and extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of Kanu without due process, urging the Nigerian government to ensure, “immediate release Kanu unconditionally”. It also demanded that the IPOB Leader be paid adequate compensation for the arbitrary violation of his fundamental rights.
Naija News recalls that last November highly respected Igbo Greats led by First Republic parliamentarian and Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi visited Buhari to beg for the unconditional release of Kanu. In his response, the President told the 93-year-old statesman that, “the best thing was to subject him (Kanu) to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.” Since the IPOB Leader has now made his case in court, Buhari should release Kanu and save the taxpayers’ money to be spent prosecuting an appeal at the apex court.
Buhari and his administration’s intransigence in handling the Kanu matter even in the face of the latest Appeal Court ruling justifies the decision by a section of the media to address him by his ‘retired major general’ rank and his government as a regime. In any case, those in authority today should not be blind to the fact that power is transient. A more or less lame-duck regime shouldn’t miss a means to ameliorate a mess and leave a good legacy. This newspaper, therefore, joins other well-meaning Nigerians to call on President Buhari to obey the appeal court ruling that frees Nnamdi Kanu. Though in its twilight, we also demand that the government be even-handed in the manner it stirs the ship of state.
Activists and conscientious citizens who are indifferent about the Buhari government doing the right thing on this Nnamdi Kanu matter must remember the immortal words of Martin Luther King Jr that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. They should also know that the whole body is affected when one part suffers. This newspaper also recommends to Buhari and his hawks the assertion by Aristotle that: “it is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace“. It is our considered view that Buhari shouldn’t bequeath the unrest in the South-East to the next administration.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News reports that the Court of Appeal had last week Thursday discharged Nnamdi Kanu and ordered his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
But reacting to the judgment, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, had claimed that the IPOB leader was not acquitted but only discharged. He vowed that the federal government would explore other options in prosecuting the pro-Biafra activist.
In a statement on Monday, Clark accused Malami of abandoning part of his job and involving in what he described as “executive rascality.”
According to Clark, Buhari had promised to abide by the ruling of the court, asking the president to keep to his promise.
He said, “I consider this stance of the Federal Government as rather imperious and needless. I, therefore, earnestly call on President Muhammadu Buhari to obey the judgment of the Court of Appeal and order the immediate release of Nnamdi Kanu in the interest of peace in the country, the South East Zone, in particular.
“I remember, and it is well known, that when the leaders, elders, and traditional rulers of the South East pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, to release Kanu and other pro-Biafra agitators in detention, the President responded that Nnamdi Kanu’s fate will be decided by the court. And even when they (Igbo leaders) visited him at Aso Rock, the President again said the matter was no longer in his hand and the security agencies, but in the hand of the judiciary and that whatever the court decides would be final.
“Now that the Court of Appeal has given its judgment on the matter, I am imploring the President to obey the judgment of the court and release the young man and allow peace to reign. At this time, when insecurity is the order of the day, anything that would enhance the peace and stability of the country must be embraced.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, needs to appreciate the fact that he is the Chief Law Officer of the Federation as provided in Section 150 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended). He is expected to play a neutral role at all times and in all matters. He is not the Chief Law Officer of a section of the country, a group, or even the President. But, I have, sadly, observed that the Attorney General has, no doubt, abandoned part of his job and is now involved in ‘executive rascality,’ to the chagrin and dismay of patriotic Nigerians at home and abroad.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
The senior counsel to Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor in a statement on Monday said the judgment of the Court of Appeal which discharged Kanu of charges against him has been served on the Department of State Services and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN).
He maintained that with the development, the government is expected to comply with the court order and set Kanu free immediately.
Naija News reports the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had last week Thursday, said Kanu is not guilty of the terrorism and treasonable felony charges slammed against him by the Federal Government.
The three-member panel of the court in a judgment read by Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie declared as illegal and unlawful, the abduction of Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria.
Ejiofor on Monday said they look forward to the compliance of the government with the court order.
He revealed also that Kanu himself was elated after the news of the Appeal Court order was told to him during their visit to him in the custody of the Department od State Services.
He said, “We have just left the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, after our fruitful meeting/engagement with our ever resolute, indefatigable, erudite, and uncompromising Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kamanu Ozuzu Kanu.
“Onyendu was exceedingly overjoyed with the news of the erudite judgement of the Court of Appeal, a copy of which was also made available to Onyendu. Onyendu could not hold his joy and immense gratitude to our legal team, ably led by the man of the letters – Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
“He is profoundly grateful to Umuchineke for your resoluteness and prayers, which impacted so positively in this victory.
“As you are all aware, upon the delivery of this judgement on October 13 2022, the detention of Onyendu in the facility of the DSS, which was strongly condemned and equally prohibited by the judgement of the Court of Appeal under reference, became gravely illegal and unconstitutional as there is nothing whatsoever, legalising the further detention of Onyendu in the detention facility of the DSS.
“Unfortunately, the breach of Onyendu’s fundamental rights by the autocratic government of Nigeria has continued unabated till now. But, be assured, Umuchineke, and the entire world that we are aggressively pursuing total compliance with this court order within every permissible legal precinct and shall keep everyone updated.
“Onyendu’s legal team eminently led by a legal icon, a foremost and an accomplished leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome is not relenting.
The court order must be obeyed whether they like it or not. No criminal charge of any form can be filed against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu again, and no indictment of any nature can be taken up against him. We have won them hands-down.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has totally run out of options, and the only valid option available to them now is to obey the order made by a very superior court of record and immediately free Onyendu. The time is now, and it is irreversible.
“Today, being October 17 2022, the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on October 13 2022, which unconditionally freed Onyendu, was served to the Attorney General of the Federation – Abubakar Malami SAN, and the Director General of the DSS Headquarters, Abuja.
“The DSS is expected to immediately enforce the positive orders of the court and immediately release Onyendu without further ado and unconditionally.
“We shall be exploring far reaching legal measures to command immediate compliance with this erudite court judgement freeing Onyendu, though the details of our strategic legal engagements shall remain private. Thank you all Ezigbo Umuchineke and remain hugely blessed. We have won and won them forever. They can never recover from it again. We move.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
In a post on his Twitter page on Monday, the lawyer warned the government not to ‘misfire’ for the fifth time.
He stated this while sharing a tweet from a former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, who cautioned the Nigerian government against the far-reaching implications of flouting the Appeal Court judgement which discharged and acquitted, Nnamdi Kanu.
The former US envoy stated that Buhari’s government misfired by embarking on the extraordinary rendition of Kanu from Kenya in 2021.
On his part, Ejimakor noted that Nigeria should not set bad precedent as a country of lawlessness by not complying with the order of a court of competent jurisdiction concerning Kanu’s release.
Revealing four instances the federal government fumbled, he said: “Nigeria’s disobedience of a 2018 decision of a continental tribunal on Kanu was the first ‘mishandling’.
“The extraordinary rendition was the second. Putting Kanu on trial was the third. Disobeying the United Nations was the fourth. And the likelihood of disobeying the judgment of the Court of Appeal will be the fifth.”
Ejimakor called on “Nigerians of means and influence, and the international community to intervene in persuading President Muhammadu Buhari to promptly comply with the court order which discharged Kanu from all the criminal charges pending against him”.
He also recalled that Buhari had on two occasions promised to obey any court order that bears on the release of Kanu, adding that “a promise of this sort is a debt.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja last week discharged the charges levelled against Kanu by the Federal Government.
President Muhammadu Buhari-led government in its reaction to the ruling, however, stated that Kanu has been discharged and not acquitted.
A former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife while reacting to the development said he would be willing to prostrate or kneel before President Buhari for the release of the IPOB leader.
According to Ezeife, the leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, George Obiozor is planning to send a delegation of Igbo elders to visit Buhari on Kanu’s issue.
Ezeife discloses this on Monday during an interview on Arise TV, while reacting to the Appeal Court ruling.
The Igbo elder said, “If President Buhari wants me to kneel, I will kneel. If he wants me to prostrate, I’ll prostrate just for Nnamdi Kanu to be released. Going to Supreme Court is a waste of time. Everyone in Nigeria is looking for a new Nigeria.”
The former governor claimed that Kanu’s released will address protests, agitation and sitting-at-home in the South-East region.
He added said the Igbo elders will welcome negotiation from the Presidency to ensure Kanu’s release and peace in the South-East.
This article was originally published on Naija News
This is coming after the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja discharged the charges levelled against Kanu by the Federal Government.
Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami in his reaction to the court ruling on Thursday also claimed that Kanu was not acquitted.
Malami in a statement released through his spokesperson, Umar Jibril Gwandu had said, “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu.
“For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted. Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.
“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition. Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predate rendition based on which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.
“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”
The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi after the National Security Council meeting on Friday reaffirmed Malami’s stand.
Dingyadi, while addressing the State House Correspondents after the meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, said a political solution was not discussed at the council.
He noted that the council would notify Nigerians of its position on the court ruling.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News had earlier reported that a Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday struck out charges levelled against Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government.
The Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria, thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.
Justice Oludotun Adebola, in his ruling on Thursday, voided and set aside the charges by the Federal Government against Kanu
The court held that the failure of Nigeria to follow due process by way of Extradition was fatal to the charges against Kanu.
Reacting to the court ruling, Malami had stated that the court only discharged Nnamdi Kanu and did not acquit him of the charges.
The AGF stated that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration would explore other options in the case against the IPOB leader.
But in a statement sent to Naija News on Friday, Ejimakor described Malami’s position on the Court of Appeal judgment as flatly wrong and “perverse to boot.”
He stated that if the federal government refuses or stalls on releasing Kanu solely because it desires to levy further or new charges, it will amount to a burgeoning holding charge impermissible in Nigeria’s jurisprudence.
“Further, no new charges can stick against Kanu because, in the present circumstance, the extraordinary rendition is an abiding factor that has created a permanent barrier to his prosecution,” Ejimakor said.
“Keep in mind that the extant trial of Kanu could never have proceeded had he not been illegally renditioned. So, it is not legally possible to lose jurisdiction in the extant charges and at once obtain jurisdiction in the next round of charges.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal has therefore grandfathered a continuing lack of prosecutorial jurisdiction that will, in the interim, be very hard to overcome.
“Thus, before the levying of any new charges can have a toga of legality or chances of conferring prosecutorial jurisdiction, Kanu has to be released first. Anything to the contrary will be nugatory.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News had earlier reported that a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday, struck out charges levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.
Justice Oludotun Adebola in his ruling on Thursday voided and set aside the charges by the Federal Government against Kanu.
The court held that failure of Nigeria to follow due process by way of Extradition was fatal to the charges against Kanu.
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, expressed joy over the court ruling.
According to the pro-Biafra group, the judgment showed that some judges are still upright.
He said: “Yes, we are happy to hear that our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU has been acquintated and discharge that is to show that some judges are good and know the law and understand that Nnamdi KANU did not commit crimes and his extraordinary renditioned was very illegal.”
“Biafrans both home and abroad including our friends should rejoice because Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama has done it again. Biafra realisation is the next target and nothing will stop it IPOB from achieving Biafra freedom,” IPOB added.
Emma Powerful also asked criminals terrorising the people of the South-East to run as they are going to meet their waterloo.
This article was originally published on Naija News
Naija News had earlier reported that the Court of Appeal on Thursday, struck out charges levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The family of the IPOB leader in their reaction to the judgement expressed excitement and gratitude to all who stood by them, including the Federal Government.
The younger brother to the IPOB Leader, Emma Kanu who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, commended the Appeal Court Judges for their ruling.
Emma expressed hope that the Federal Government would abide by the ruling of the Appeal Court and release Kanu.
While expressing his excitement he said, “The victory is for all of us. I am thanking all, men, women, pastors, journalists, IPOB media warriors, those we know and those we do not know all over the world, especially the Appeal Court judges that handled the case, even the dead.
“I also thank the Federal Government who understood and I know will abide by the Appeal Court decision. This is a win-win day.”
A counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome has reacted to the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
Ozekhome a (Senior Advocate of Nigeria) while speaking on the ruling on Thursday evening argued that Kanu should be released
immediately after his discharge by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The senior leader while speaking on Channels TV said the IPOB leader should be released tomorrow for peace to reign in the country.
This article was originally published on Naija News
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday quashing the charges against … Read More
Naija News reports that the Appeal Court had on Thursday upheld the appeal of the pro-Biafra activist and struck out charges levelled against him by the Federal Government.
Reacting in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, stated that the court only discharged Kanu and did not acquit him.
The statement reads: “Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.
“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition.
“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predate rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.
“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”
This article was originally published on Naija News
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has described appeal Court’s discharge and acquittal as a triumph of light over darkness. MASSOB also said that … Read More
