The Supreme Court has fixed 15th December to deliver judgement on the appeal seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
In its ruling on 13th October 2022, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered Kanu’s release. In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court also quashed a 15-count terrorism charge that Federal Government entered against the detained IPoB leader, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, dissatisfied with the judgement, Federal Government appealed to the Supreme Court.
At the proceedings on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, fixed the matter for judgement after the parties involved in the case adopted their final briefs.
While adopting his final brief, counsel for Kanu, Prof, Mike Ozehkome urged the court to order the immediate release of his client from detention and award a heavy punitive cost against the Federal Government.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said: “We urge my lords to uphold our Cross-Appeal to do substantial justice to this matter and to the Respondent who has been in detention since 29th June 2021, even after the lower court ordered his release and that he should never be prosecuted again on the same counts.
“They are still holding him unconstitutionally. We pray my Lords to deliver justice and use this case, just like in Ojukwu vs. State, to demonstrate that no man or government should be above the law”.
However, in his submission, Federal Government’s lawyer, Tijjani Alkali Gazzali (SAN) urged the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement of the Court of Appeal which ordered Kanu’s release.
He also prayed for the court to order the resumption of his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja for terrorism-related charges.
