Nnamdi Kalu Remains In Prison As Court Adjourns Kanu's Appeal

 

 

 

The IPOB leader, who is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had through his lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, approached the appellate court to query the legal competence of the charge pending against him. He specifically asked the appellate court to review the April 8 ruling of the trial court which struck out only eight out of the 15-count charge. 

 

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, today September 13, reserved its judgment on an appeal filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,  Nnamdi Kanu, to quash the terrorism and treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.

 

Insisting that the charge FG entered against him had no basis in law, Kanu, in his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted. He also appealed to the court to order his release on bail, pending the determination of his appeal.

 

Though the appeal was initially fixed for October 11, however, following an application the embattled IPOB leader filed for abridgement of time, the appellate court brought the matter forward for hearing.

 

At the hearing of the appeal today September 13, a three-man panel led by Justice Jummai Hanatu, said it had no need to delve into the issue of bail since the substantive appeal was ripe for hearing.

 

Arguing the appeal, Chief Ozekhome, SAN, alleged that his client was forcefully abducted from Kenya and illegally renditioned back to the country. He told the court that his client was first arraigned on December 23, 2015, and was later granted bail on April 25, 2017.

 

Meanwhile, FG, through its lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for want of merit.  Kaswe argued that the IPOB leader was brought back to the country by due process of the law. He argued that the charge has been amended seven times owing to the conduct of the Appellant.