The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled October 5th for the hearing of appeals in the case of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. This decision comes after a series of legal proceedings that have garnered national attention.
To recap, on April 8, 2022, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja struck out eight out of the 15-count treasonable felony charges against Nnamdi Kanu, following an application by Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, representing Kanu. The application sought to quash the entire charge, claiming it was legally defective and that the court lacked jurisdiction to prosecute Kanu. Ozekhome further argued that Kanu had been “unlawfully, brutally, and extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya without his consent.”
The contention also centered on the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court, as some of the charges against Kanu were allegedly committed outside Nigeria.
Dissatisfied with some aspects of Justice Nyako’s ruling, Nnamdi Kanu, represented by Chief Mike Ozekhome, appealed the decision. On October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, delivered a landmark judgment, acquitting and absolving Kanu of any wrongdoing. The Court of Appeal’s decision directed the Federal Government to release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally and prohibited further detention or prosecution in Nigeria.
However, a recent statement by Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq., IPOB’s lead counsel, announced that the Supreme Court will now hear a “frivolous appeal” filed by the Federal Government against the Court of Appeal’s judgment. This appeal also seeks to set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal that stayed the execution of its earlier judgment.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing on October 5th will be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for Nnamdi Kanu’s legal standing and the broader political landscape in Nigeria.
