The Supreme Court will deliver judgment on the appeal seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention on December 15.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had in a judgment delivered on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s release.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court also quashed a 15-count terrorism charge that FG entered against the detained IPOB leader, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, dissatisfied with the judgment, FG took the matter before 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 judgment after the parties involved in the case adopted their final briefs.
While adopting his final brief, counsel for Kanu Mike Ozehkome, SAN, urged the court to order the immediate release of his client from detention and award a heavy punitive cost against the FG.
He 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 June 29, 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, FG’s lawyer, Gazzali, SAN, urged the apex court to set aside the judgment 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.
