By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The Supreme Court, will December 15, 2023, gives judgment in an appeal filed by the Federal Government seeking to stop the release of the self acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
A 5-man panel of Justices of the apex court led by Kudirat Kekere Ekun, adjourned to the date after counsel in the matter had moved their respective briefs of arguments.
In the appeal marked: SC/CR/1361/2022, Tijani Ghazali SAN announced appearance for the FG (Appellant), while Kanu Agabi SAN, leading Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN, Ifeanyi Ejiofor etc represented Nnamdi Kanu (Respondent).
Adopting the appeal, the Federal Government, through it’s counsel, Tijani Ghazali SAN, urged the Court to set aside judgement of the Court below (Court of Appeal) and affirm the decision of the Federal High Court, which had ordered Kanu to enter defence on 7-count charges.
On the cross appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the FG lawyer prayed the apex to dismiss it as lacking in merit and incompetent.
In his defense, counsel to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, urge the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the cross appeal lodged in by the IPOB’s leader.
Prof Ozekhome told the panel that Nnamdi Kanu has been under custody since June 29, 2021, adding that the FG has continued to flout an order by the Court of Appeal which discharged and absolved Nnamdi Kanu of any wrongdoing.
While urging the Supreme Court to do substantial justice to the case, Ozekhome stated “That no man should be above the law, and that no government should trample on the rights of its citizens”.
Recall that Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had on April 8, 2022 struck out eight out of the 15-count treasonable felony charge levelled against Kanu, by the Federal Government.
Justice Nyako’s ruling was on an application by Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN on behalf of Kanu, which had sought an order quashing the entire charge against the IPOB leader.
