High Court Takes Action on Nnamdi Kanu's Illegal Arrest Suit
- Nnamdi Kanu's suit challenging his arrest in Kenya and his transfer to Nigeria for trial has been dismissed at the Federal High Court in Abuja
- Presiding Judge Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit over a lack of representation either from Kanu or the federal government
- According to the court, no lawyer represented Kanu in the previous adjournment, while the federal government was represented previously
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the N50 billion suit filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case at the trial court, dismissed the suit over the failure of diligent prosecution during the hearing on Thursday, April 10.
Source: Getty Images
Why court struck out Nnamdi Kanu's suit
According to Vanguard, when the case was called on Thursday for a hearing, neither the federal government nor Kanu was represented by their lawyer at the court.
The judge noted that in the last hearing of the suit, it was only the federal government that was represented by its counsel while no lawyer represented the embattled IPOB leader.
Justice Ekwo noted that the suit had taken three different adjournments because of a lack of representation, leading to its consequent strike-out.
Kanu had filed the suit with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation as the first and second defendants. The suit number is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022.
Why Kanu sued Nigerian government, AGF
Kanu sued the federal government on the allegations that bordered on the violation of his rights. He had alleged that he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to stand trial.
The embattled IPOB leader then took the matter to court to challenge the way and manner in which he was 'abducted' from Kenya, wanting the court to determine if such action was consistent with the extant laws.
In the suit, Kanu cited 'the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the African Charter on human and peoples rights (ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Article/Part 5 (a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa'.
The embattled leader of the proscribed IPOB also wanted the court to determine 'whether by the operation of Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff can be competently/legally tried for offences stated in counts 1 to 14 of the 15-count amended charge'.
Obi of Onitsha denied mobilising for Kanu
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, denied that he had mobilised Igbo youths to protest in Abuja on March 21.
According to the traditional ruler, he had not made any moves to arrange protest action in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu's case before the court.
The Obi urged the public to disregard the rumours as false and misleading, and expressed confidence in the case being resolved peacefully.
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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Bada Yusuf (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Yusuf Amoo Bada is an accomplished writer with over 5 years of experience in journalism and writing, he is also politics and current affairs editor with Legit.ng. He holds B.A in Literature from OAU, and Diploma in Mass Comm. He has obtained certificates in Google's Advance Digital Reporting, News Lab workshop. He previously worked as an Editor with OperaNews. Best Editor of the Year for Politics and Current Affairs Desk (2023) by Legit.ng. Contact: bada.yusuf.amoo@corp.legit.ng
Bruce Douglas (Head of Copyeditors) Bruce Douglas has 13 years of experience in community media, including coverage of sports, human interest, crime and politics.
