The Supreme Court has declined to order the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
On Friday, the court’s panel of justices overturned an earlier order by the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordering Kanu’s release on bail.
The Supreme Court, in a decision written by Justice Garba Lawal and read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, overturned and set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision in October last year, which ordered Kanu’s release and quashed the terrorism charges against him.
The Supreme Court ruled that the Nigerian government’s reckless and unlawful repatriation of Kanu from Kenya did not prevent the trial from proceeding.
Justice Lawal stated that no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking the IPOB leader’s release on the basis of mere unlawful abduction from Kenya and that the remedy for such action at the moment is for Kanu to file a civil matter against such an act rather than removing the powers of the courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.
The Supreme Court then ordered the IPOB leader to appear in a Federal High Court in Abuja to defend himself against the remaining seven terrorism charges.
More details later…
