The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday decided that the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB violated his fundamental rights.
In addition, the court ruled that Kanu should be returned to the condition he was in before his detention and extraordinary rendition in June 2021.
Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu sued Nigeria's government challenging his kidnapping and extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria.
The IPOB leader, represented by his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, is asking the court, among other things, to order his return to Kenya, from where he was kidnapped, or to the UK, where he resides.
On Wednesday, the court granted all seven of Ejimakor's prayers.
In a tweet, Ejimakor wrote: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu WINS at Federal High Court, Umuahia. The court ruled that the Extraordinary Rendition is a violation of his fundamental rights.
"All 7 prayers sought from the court were granted, including restoring him to his state of being as of 19th June 2021 & halting his prosecution.”
The Federal High Court also rejected the request by the Nigerian government to transfer to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the extraordinary rendition suit filed against it by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The Nigerian government in a written statement adopted on Tuesday by its attorney, Simon Enoch requested the court to dismiss the lawsuit because it was an abuse of the legal processes.
The Federal Government further stated that Kanu had already jumped bail before his re-arrest in Kenya and that the Abia State High Court had already pronounced judgment on the matter.
The federal government additionally requested that the case be moved to Abuja.
The presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, declined to grant the Federal government’s application to transfer the suit to Abuja.
In her ruling, Justice Anyadike declared that “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”.
Aloy Ejimakor.
Kanu's lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, also confirmed the development in a tweet.
He wrote: “Breaking: Federal High Court, Umuahia denies the Federal Government’s application to transfer the ‘extraordinary rendition’ suit to Abuja, and rules that Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”.
Kanu was arrested in Kenya last year by the Nigerian government and returned to Nigeria in what he has described as an extraordinary rendition.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, since his return to Nigeria.
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu's special counsel, filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian government challenging how his client was brought back to Nigeria to stand prosecution.
Politics and Opinion.
Comments