Abuja court adjourns Nnamdi Kanu case indefinitely, awaits Supreme Court verdict

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned the case against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), indefinitely, pending the Supreme Court’s verdict in the matter.

Kanu was not present in court when the matter was adjourned for parties to give a report on the status of the case.

The IPOB leader has been in detention since June 19, 2019 when was brought back from Kenya.

He was subsequently re-arraigned on an amended 15 counts.

The court struck out eight of the 15 counts on April 8; the court of appeal later quashed the remaining seven counts on October 13.

Delivering judgment in the appeal, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Hanatu Sankey held that the Federal Government flouted the terrorism act in violation of international conventions and treaties, hence, breaching the rights of the respondent.

The court held that having illegally and forcefully renditioned the appellant, the trial court is stripped of jurisdiction to continue to try Kanu.

But the FG is yet to release the IPOB leader. Instead, it filed an appeal before the Supreme Court to challenge the appeal court judgment.

It also filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the judgment of the appellate court.

Ruling on the application, the court of appeal granted the government’s request.

At the court session on Monday, Mike Ozekhome, counsel to Kanu, told the court that there were appeals pending before the Supreme Court.

He said, “The position, therefore, is that the appeal on this matter has been entered at the Supreme Court.

“I humbly urge this court to adjourn this matter sine die to await the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

Mohammed Abubakar, prosecution counsel, agreed with Ozekhome’s position.

Ruling on the application, the presiding judge, Binta Nyako, said, “I’m also in agreement that the case should be adjourned sine die pending the outcome of the appeal.”

The Federal Government has also filed fresh charges against the IPOB leader.

When the matter was mentioned in court, Ozekhome said he had not been served with the fresh charge.

“We have not even been served this charge. We only read it on social media. It was when we came to court that we saw that it was listed,” he said

The senior advocate said the fresh charge “constitutes an abuse of court process”, considering the appeal court decision delivered on October 13.

The judge also held that the suit should also be adjourned indefinitely until the determination of the appeals before the Supreme Court.