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Kanu’s Legal Team Demands His Release, Submits 9 Judgments to AGF |
The legal representatives of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), have submitted nine judgments related to his case to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Barrister Nnaemeka Ejiofor, the leader of the legal team, informed journalists on Thursday that these judgments were issued by both domestic and international courts, all directing the release of Kanu.
This move comes in response to the statement attributed to the AGF, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who claimed not to be aware of Kanu's case and suggested that the court would determine his fate.
Ejiofor emphasized that certain individuals may have intentionally concealed these judicial developments from the AGF, hindering the enforcement of the judgments and preventing any positive steps toward Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's release.
The judgments submitted include:
1. African Union African Commission On Human and People’s Right Communication 680/17
2. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (1st October, 2020) with Reference AL NGA 5/2020 (Proscription of IPOB)
3. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights (26th August, 2021) with Reference UA NGA 5/2021 (Enforced Disappearance and Torture of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu)
4. High Court of Abia State Umuahia Division Judgment (19th January 2022, HIN/FR.14/2021)
5. United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Opinion (30th March – 8th April 2022, Opinion No. 25/2022)
6. Federal High Court Umuahia Division Judgment (26th October, 2022, FHC/UM/CS/30/2022)
7. High Court of Enugu State Judgment (26th October, 2023, E/20/2023)
8. Court of Appeal Judgment (13th October, 2022, Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022)
9. Supreme Court Judgment (15th December, 2023, Appeal No. SC/CR/1361/2022)
Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention since his repatriation from Kenya in June 2021 and was rearraigned on charges related to terrorism.
During the most recent hearing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on May 20, Kanu protested his continued trial on terrorism charges, arguing that it contradicted international treaties entered into by Nigeria.
Lateef Fagbemi, in addressing questions during the sectoral ministerial briefing to mark the one-year anniversary of the Tinubu administration, acknowledged the complexity of Kanu's case and emphasized that only a competent court could resolve the matter.
