The IPOB had on November 3, 2022, filed a suit at the apex court against the verdict of the Appellate Court which stopped the release of the leader of the Igbo self-determination group.
The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned the
hearing in the suit filed for the release of the detained leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to September 14.
The IPOB had on November 3, 2022, filed a
suit at the apex court against the verdict of the Appellate Court which stopped
the release of the leader of the Igbo self-determination group.
Speaking on the adjournment, Kanu’s special
counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, stated on Thursday that the reason was because the
Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami,
asked for the “filing of additional processes in response to Kanu’s latest
filing.”
Ejimakor said, “The reason for the
adjournment is that the Court granted the application of the AGF to file
additional processes in response to Nnamdi Kanu’s latest filing which was done
on Tuesday this week.
“The Court also said that even if it hears
the appeal today, it does not have space within its busy calendar to write and
deliver the judgment within the 90 days deadline set by the Constitution.”
It would be recalled that the lead lawyer for
IPOB and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had in a statement in November
2022 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
him, and placing a further bar to any further detention and prosecution of
Nnamdi Kanu on any charge/indictment before any court in Nigeria.
“Recall that on October 28, 2022, a
three-person 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.
“Our well-informed position was given a final
nod by our indefatigable client, Nnamdi Kanu, during my last visit to him.
“We therefore, by this medium, inform the
general public, and Umuchineke in particular, that we have filed an appeal
against the said ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on October 28, 2022,
and will proactively follow up on the administrative process to ensure that
both appeals are given accelerated hearings in line with the extant fast-track
rules of the Supreme Court.”
Prior to the hearing, Kanu’s special counsel,
Aloy Ejimakor, had urged the Supreme Court to ensure justice in the trial of
his client.
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