Abuja, Nigeria
The Supreme Court has fixed December 15 to deliver judgment in the appeal filed by the federal government for the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun leading a five-member panel of the apex court fixed the judgment date after taking final arguments from Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome and Tijani Gazali, the Federal Government’s lawyer.
Gazali in his final address pleaded that the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which upheld seven count charges against Kanu, be affirmed so that he can be brought for trial.
Opposing the plea, Ozekhome said the Federal Government has since 2021 been detaining Kanu illegally and unlawfully against court ruling on the matter.
He pleaded that the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which quashed the charges against Kanu and ordered his immediate release be upheld.
On October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal judgment upheld the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja which had quashed the criminal charges against Kanu and ordered his release.
Ozekhome argued that the appellate court in a judgment in its judgement had dismissed the remaining seven-count criminal charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court.