A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia Abia State will Tuesday hear a suit instituted by the embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, seeking the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
Kanu’s lawyer, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, told journalists that the case borders on the extraordinary rendition of his client from Kenya, contrary to international laws.
He is seeking twenty-five billion Naira as damages against the federal government.
He said; “The Suit is sui generis (of a special class) and it is primarily aimed at redressing the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, which is a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.
“In addition to the rendition, I am asking the Court to redress the myriad violations that came with the rendition, such as the torture, the unlawful detention, and the denial of the right to fair hearing which is required by law before anybody can be expelled from one country to the other. I am also seeking to halt his prosecution and restore him to the status quo before he was rendition on 19th June 2021.
“You will recall that on 19th January 2022, the High Court of Abia State decided that portion of violation of Kanu’s fundamental rights that occurred in 2017. Even as I had made claims that bordered on rendition, the Court declined jurisdiction on the grounds that rendition, being related to extradition, lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. This is what informed my decision to initiate the suit before the Federal High Court.
“To be sure, the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu triggered myriad legal questions that cut across multiple jurisdictions in Nigeria and even triggered the international legal order. In other words, the rendition has expanded the matter of Kanu far beyond the realms of the Abuja trial and opened up new legal frontiers that must be ventilated to the hilt before other courts and tribunals within and without Nigeria”.
The Ohaneze Igbo Youth leaders, family members, and supporters accompanied the lawyer to court.
The Police in Ebonyi State have recovered Improvised Explosive Devices, IEDs and other dangerous items from a suspected camp of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Police Command’s Spokesperson, SP Chris Anyanwu, said the camp was located at Obegu, a boundary area between Onicha-Isu and Ishielu Local Government Areas of the state.
According to SP Chris Anyanwu, the officers from the tactical teams, stormed the camp after receiving credible information that hoodlums were operating and wreaking havoc within Ishielu axis of the state.
He said the police promptly went after them with a joint effort of detectives attached to Ohaukwu Division and they arrested the commander of IPOB in Ebonyi State, Sunday Ubah a.k.a Bongo.
SP Anyanwu said the clampdown on camp led to the discovery of Improvised Explosive Devices IEDs, which he described as the biggest in the South-East capable of causing immense damage to buildings and human lives.
The Ebonyi State Police spokesperson said two of the hoodlums were neutralized, while some police operatives sustained minor bullet injuries.
The Nigerian Government has amended the seven-count terrorism charges against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The Government filed the amended seven-count terrorism charge against Kanu.
The amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, which was entered before the Federal High Court in Abuja, contained all allegations against Kanu that were earlier sustained by the court.
In a broadcast, the Federal Government said Kanu had issued a deadly threat that anyone who flouted IPOB’s sit-at-home order in the South-East should write his or her will.
The Government claimed that in 2018, Kanu severally made broadcasts that incited his members to kill security operatives and families.
It noted that the offence was punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.
The South East Governors Forum has called on the Federal Government to adopt a political solution in the case of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The governors made the call on Sunday after an emergency meeting held in Enugu.
The demand formed part of a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and read by the forum’s chairman and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi said, “South East Governors are watching with keen interest, the developments with respect to the case of Nnamdi Kanu vis-a-vis the court rulings.
“However, we believe that a political solution is still possible in this circumstance.”
The governors decried the state of insecurity in the region and expressed worry over economic activities which have come to a halt while kidnapping and wanton killings have become the order of the day.
They also resolved to set up a 24-hour joint patrol on all major highways in the region.
“South East governors call on the Federal Government to come to our aid in providing security in the zone bearing in mind that elections are around the corner.
“Meanwhile, South East Governors have agreed to set up a 24-hour joint patrol in all major highways within the South East, especially during the Christmas season,” Umahi added.
The governors commended the states and the Federal Government on efforts so far made to alleviate the sufferings of the victims of the recent flood in the country and expressed the hope for a desirable long-term solution.
The governor added, “South East governors have decided to put funds together to further assist victims of flooding in our five states in the South East.
“We also plead with the Federal Government to please initiate action in the dredging of rivers in the South East, to ameliorate the destruction of houses, farmlands and properties. We request the Federal Government to come to the aid of the victims in terms of rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons.”
At the meeting were Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; and Imo State, Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, who was by his deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku.
