Supreme Court slates Dec 15 to determine Nnamdi Kanu’s fate

The Supreme Court on Thursday, adjourned till December 15 to deliver judgment in the appeals filed by the Federal Government and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The apex court fixed the date after Tijani Gazali (SAN), counsel to the Federal Government and that of the IPOB leader, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN) adopted their processes filed in the matter.

While adopting the processes on behalf of the Federal Government, Gazali urged the court allow the appeal, set aside an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, which quashed the treasonable felony charge against Kanu and ordered his release on the grounds that he was unlawfully renditioned back to the country after he jumped bail.

Gazali further prayed the court to affirm the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja which held that, Kanu should stand trial on that charges struck out by the Court of Appeal.

He also urged the court to dismiss the cross appeal filed by Kanu for lacking in merit.

Ozekhome, while adopting the processes filed against the appeal on behalf of the IPOB leader, prayed the apex court to allow the judgment of the Court of Appeal and set aside the later order for the stay of the execution of the judgment.

The senior lawyer also prayed the court to uphold the cross appeal filed to do justice in the matter.

After the final submission by counsel in the matter, the court reserved December 15 for judgement.

Speaking with newsmen after the proceedings, Ozekhome pleaded for the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, who, he said, has been unjustly and unconstitutionally incarcerated since 2021 against the judgement of the Court of Appeal.

He sued for peace, which Kanu has always stand for and called for the unity of the country, adding that, “We must forget the past and approach a new nation founded on peace, social justice, truth, equity, good conscience and egalitarianism”.

It would be recalled that, on the 13th October 2022, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, delivered a Judgment in an appeal filed by Kanu’s lead Counsel, Prof Mike Ozekhome, (SAN) challenging part of the Federal High Court’s ruling, which had retained seven counts out of the original 15- count charge filed against Kanu, after striking out eight out of the 15- count charge.

The learned Justices of the Court of Appeal, in allowing Kanu’s appeal filed by Ozekhome, directed the Federal Government to immediately release the IPOB leader unconditionally.

The appellate court in the judgement, prohibited the Federal Government from further detaining Kanu, or prosecuting him on any indictment or charge before any court in Nigeria.

In a unanimous decision by the three-member panel, the appellate court also quashed the 15-count terrorism charge that FG entered against the detained IPOB leader, before the Federal High Court in Abuja

Dissatisfied with the judgement of the appellate court, the Federal Government filed nine grounds of appeal to oppose Kanu’s release from detention.