The Nigerian government has added nine grounds of appeal to the four it filed last year in an attempt to prevent the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). After rejecting the accusations against Nnamdi Kanu in October last year, the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered his release from the custody of Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS).
The treasonable felony and terrorist accusations stemmed from Mr. Kanu’s efforts for the independence of Southeast Nigeria and other bordering areas as the Republic of Biafra.
Nnamdi Kanu, who fled the country in September 2017, halting his 2015 trial, was arrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria under questionable circumstances in June 2021. The Court of Appeal noted the unclear method of bringing him back to Nigeria as the foundation for dropping the accusations against him and ordering his release in October 2022.
To prevent Mr. Kanu’s release, the federal government filed a four-ground notice of appeal to the Supreme Court against the Court of Appeal’s verdict. It then petitioned the Court of Appeal to stay the execution of the order for Mr. Kanu’s release pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on the competence of the charges. The court granted the federal government’s motion, allowing it to appeal to the Supreme Court while Nnamdi Kanu is still detained.
After gaining adequate time to reinforce its appeal, the government has added nine more grounds to the four it submitted in the aftermath of the Court of Appeal’s decision to discharge Mr. Kanu on October 13, 2022.
The government stated that the Court of Appeal was incorrect in merely considering the mechanism of the IPOB leader’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya without considering the nature of the alleged offenses for which he was being charged.
Nnamdi Kanu: Nigerian Government Finally Explains Arrest in Kenya
The Nigerian Federal Government has explained how Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, was arrested in Kenya and then returned to Nigeria.
According to the government, Nnamdi Kanu was subjected to an extraordinary rendition from Kenya in order for him to continue his ongoing prosecution in Nigeria.
The government argued in an amended notice of appeal filed with the Supreme Court, marked SC/CR/1361/2022, that the Court of Appeal in Abuja erred in holding that the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria deprived the trial court of jurisdiction to try him on the seven-count charge on which he was being tried before he absconded.
The government said in a statement said that the return of Nnamdi Kanu to Nigeria was “made possible through the efforts of Nigerian security agencies and international intelligence agencies. The Indigenous People of Biafra had been consistently intimidating and threatening the peace and security of Nigeria through their violent activities.
“The government had to take action to protect the country’s sovereignty and ensure that the rule of law is upheld.”