Nnamdi Kanu in court
UK court fixes June 22 to hear Kanu’s appeal
Supreme Court, Thursday, adjourned further hearing till September 14, this year, on the suit filed by leader of the pro-secession group in the South East, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, through his lawyers for his release.
The announcement comes on the heels of the report that a United Kingdom Court of Appeal will now hear Kanu’s ‘extraordinary rendition appeal’ over his continued detention by the Nigerian government.
Kanu’s legal counsels had on November 3, 2022, filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision to set aside the release of Kanu, despite an earlier ruling freeing him from detention.
Lawyer for the IPOB and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in a statement, Wednesday, said, they have now appealed to the Supreme Court to vacate Court of Appeal ruling and further staying the execution of the court’s judgment which freed Kanu.
“We have appealed to the Supreme Court, to set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal, staying the execution of the court’s judgment discharging him, and placing a further bar to any further detention and prosecution of Nnamdi Kanu on any charge/indictment before any court in Nigeria.
“Recall that on October 28, 2022, a three-person panel of Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal (Abuja Judicial Division), granted an application for the stay of execution of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, pending the determination of the appeal filed before the Supreme Court by the Federal Government.
“After a thorough review of the said ruling by our defence team, eminently led by foremost leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), an informed decision was taken by the erudite Senior Advocate, and the entire team, that the said ruling, which has no foundation in law or facts, placed before the court, should be immediately appealed against, for it to be set aside by the Apex Court.
“Our well-informed position was given a final nod by our indefatigable client, Nnamdi Kanu, during my last visit to him.
“We therefore, by this medium, inform the general public, and Umuchineke in particular, that we have filed an appeal against the said ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on October 28, 2022, and will proactively follow up on the administrative process to ensure that both appeals are given accelerated hearings in line with the extant fast-track rules of the Supreme Court,” Ejiofor said.
Meanwhile, another member of Kanu’s legal team, Mr. Aloy Ejimakor, has said the UK Court of Appeal has fixed June 22, this year to hear his client’s extraordinary rendition appeal.
According to Ejimakor, the UK court considered Kanu’s grounds of appeal as ‘important.’
“Breaking: UK Court of Appeal to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition appeal. In an initial order, the Court ruled that “the grounds of appeal raise important issues.” The appeal will be heard on 22nd June, 2023. Kudos to Kanu family & my colleagues, the Bindmans,” Ejomakor disclosed vis Twiter handle (@AloyEjimakor), Wednesday.
