Court frees Nnamdi Kanu, says IPOB leader’s abduction to Nigeria unlawful
TIMOTHY AGBOR
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday declared as unlawful the abduction of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the entire terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
The Appellate Court in a judgement by Justice Oludotun Adebola held 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.
The court, therefore, discharged and acquitted Kanu.
Kanu is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
The federal government alleged that Kanu committed the offences in the course of his separatist campaigns.
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal said the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to try him in view of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in flagrant violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.
Kanu had approached the Appeal Court seeking to quash terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
He faulted the order of Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered him to answer seven out of the 15-count terrorism charges against him.
He prayed the appellate court to quash the entire charges and set him free on various grounds.
The IPOB leader had said the purported offences were not committed in Nigeria.
However, the Justice Hanatu Sankey-led 3-man panel of Justices, discharged Kanu.
The ruling was disclosed by Kanu’s lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
In a tweet, Ejiofor wrote: “Appeal allowed, MNk discharged and acquitted.
“Appeal allowed , Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU, discharged and acquitted. We have won! Victory victory victory victory,” Ejiofor wrote.
