Court orders FG to pay Nnamdi Kanu N1bn over rights violation

A high court in Umuahia, Abia State, has ordered the Federal Government to pay N1 billion to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for violating his rights.

Kanu, in DSS custody, filed the suit through his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami,and the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly violating his fundamental human rights.

Other respondents named in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria (first), chief of army staff (third), inspector-general of police (fifth), and three others.

Amongst other reliefs sought in the suit marked HIH/FR14/2021, Kanu asked the court to compel the respondents to pay him N5 billion in damages as monetary compensation for the “physical, mental, emotional, psychological and other damages” suffered as a result of the alleged infringement on his fundamental right.

He also sought damages for the invasion of his father’s house on September 10, 2017, by the military.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Benson Anya, the judge, described the invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu residence as notorious and brazen.

The judge also ordered the Federal Government to issue a public apology to Kanu in three national dailies.

He also advised the FG to adopt a political resolution in dealing with issues involving Kanu.

However, the judge struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu’s legal team, including his repatriation from Kenya and continued detention by the DSS.