BREAKING: Court Orders FG to pay Nnamdi Kanu N1bn For Wrongful Arrest
The Nigerian government was on Wednesday defeated at the Abia State High Court by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) just as he in the Abuja Federal High Court denied committing any of the 15-count terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
Justice Ben Anya of the High Court sitting in Abia State, rejected the Nigerian government’s challenge of its jurisdiction to hear Kanu’s fundamental rights suit.
Kanu, through Aloy Ejimakor, his special counsel, had initiated the fundamental human rights suit against the Nigerian government.
In the suit, Ejimakor had urged the court to declare the invasion of the residence of the IPoB leader in Abia State in 2017 as unlawful and an infringement of his constitutional right.
He urged the court to declare his rearrest and torture in Kenya last year as unlawful.
The suit, which Ejimakor filed in August 2021, further sought the court to stop the Nigerian government from prosecuting Kanu, mandating it to release the IPoB leader and tender an apology to Kanu, among others.
But, during Wednesday’s proceedings, the Nigerian government challenged the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.
Disclosed Ejimakor in a tweet: “Breaking: MNK wins as Abia High Court rejects Nigerian government’s challenge to its jurisdiction to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s fundamental rights suit. Judgment on other issues still in progress”.
Meanwhile, in the resumed case of alleged terrorism brought against the IPoB Leader in an Abuja Federal High Court, he denied committing any of the 15-count terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
He made the denial when the charges were read to him by the Registrar of the court, Mr A. O. Yahaya.
Following an absence of objection, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that Kanu take his plea in the 15 counts terrorism charges brought against him.
Justice Binta Nyako issued the order following the request of the Federal Government lawyer, Mr. Shuaib Labaran, and no objection by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) standing for Kanu.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has confirmed that the Department of the State Service (DSS) has provided Kanu with an orthopedic mattress, pillows, blankets among others in compliance with the court order.
Labaran conveyed the news to Justice Nyako at the resumption of Kanu’s arraignment.
Kanu’s lead lawyer, Ozekhome showered encomiums on the DSS, adding that his client would now live and sleep like a human being.
Justice Nyako has directed that clothes brought for Kanu by his family members be handed over to the Director of Legal Services of DSS to enable him change his clothes.
The case was adjourned till February 16, 2022.
