Anastasia Okechukwu Reporting
The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned an appeal by the Nigerian government challenging the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) till next month.
A five-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, adjourned the suit until 11 May, and also granted leave to the Federal Government to bring nine new grounds againsts Kanu’s release as part of its amended notice of appeal dated 28th October 2022.
Recall, on 13 October, 2022, the court of appeal in Abuja had struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the custody of Nigeria’s secret police, State Security Service, in Abuja.
However, the government declined to free the IPOB leader, stating that Kanu’s release would increase insecurity in the South-east and he might not be present for future court hearings.
The government later appealed the court decision through the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office, and the Supreme Court subsequently issued an injunction suspending the court judgment’s execution.
At the start of the Supreme Court hearing on Thursday, Mr. Kanu’s lead attorney, Mike Ozekhome, briefed the panel on his motions, one of which asked for his client’s release on bail and another of which asked for his transfer to the Kuje Correctional Facility so that he could receive proper medical care citing his failing health at the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
But in opposition to Mr Ozekhome’s requests, the lawyer to the Nigerian government, Tijjani Gazali, also a SAN, argued that the DSS detention centre has adequate resources to attend to Mr Kanu’s health needs.
After listening to the arguments, the panel advised Mr Ozekhome to withdraw his applications to pave the way for a speedy hearing of the main suit.
It directed Mr Gazali to file the appellant’s brief within six days from Thursday.