Breaking: Nnamdi Kanu refuses to show up in court over FG’s refusal to release him

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday, refused to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

His actions is in protest against the Federal Government’s refusal to obey a Court of Appeal judgment that ordered his release from detention.

The refusal to honour the High Court was conveyed to Justice Binta Nyako by the Federal Government counsel, Mr Mohammed Abubakar.

He informed the court that all entreaties made to persuade him to have a change of heart were rebuffed.

Kanu was said to have stood his ground not to appear in court until the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal is respected and obeyed by releasing him from the custody of the Department of the State Service, DSS, in Abuja.

Protests in Abia

There were protests in Abia on Friday, over the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Crowds stormed major roads in Abia State, condemning the incarceration of the separatist leader despite a court’s verdict for his discharge.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS) in Abuja since he was arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021.

The Court of Appeal had on October 13 ordered the IPOB leader’s release, having dismissed the remaining six-count charge levelled against him by the federal government.

The federal government had asked the Court of Appeal to stay the execution of the judgment discharging Kanu, pending the resolution of an appeal it filed at the Supreme Court.

The protesters, mainly youths, demanded the immediate release of Kanu, describing his arrest and detention as uncalled for and totally unacceptable.

They chanted songs of grievances and displayed placards that bore various inscriptions such as “Freedom for Biafra, free Nnamdi Kanu”, “We are not terrorists, we are freedom fighters”, “We are tired of intimidation and harassment by the Nigerian Government”, “Biafra on the move.”

Nnamdi Kanu drags Nigerian govt to Supreme Court

Kanu had dragged the federal government to the Supreme Court.

Kanu wants the apex court to set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal staying the execution of the court’s judgment discharging him.

The lead lawyer to IPOB and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said these in a statement on Thursday.

He said, “We have appealed to the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal staying the execution of the court’s judgment discharging and placing further bar to any further detention and prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on any charge/indictment before any court in Nigeria.

“Recall that on October 28, 2022, a three-man panel of Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal (Abuja Judicial Division) granted an application for the stay of execution of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, pending the determination of the Appeal filed before the Supreme Court by the Federal Government.

“After a thorough review of the said ruling by our defence team eminently led by foremost leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria – Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), an informed decision was taken by the erudite Senior Advocate and the entire team that the said ruling, which has no foundation in law or facts, placed before the court, should be immediately appealed against, for it to be set aside by the Apex Court.