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Terrorism: Court adjourns judgment on Kanu’s appeal again
• IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, reserved its judgement on an appeal the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, filed to quash the terrorism and treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The IPOB leader, who is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, approached the appellate court to query the legal competence of the charge pending against him.
He specifically prayed the appellate court to review the April 8 ruling of the trial court which struck out only eight out of the 15-count charge.
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.
Kanu equally urged the appellate 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.
When the matter was called up on Tuesday, 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.
“My lords, he was enjoying this bail without breaching the terms. However, he was in his ancestral home when agents of the Respondent invaded his home in September 2017. He barely escaped alive by sheer providence and found himself first in Isreal and later in London.
“When the Appellant travelled from London to Kenya, agents of the Respondents, on June 27, 2021, forcefully abducted the Appellant, tortured and renditioned him back to the country without following any extradition process”, Ozekhome submitted.
He argued that under the Doctrine of Speciality as provided for in section 15 of the Extradition Act, FG, ought to have proceeded to try Kanu on the five-count charge he was initially facing before he escaped from the country.
He argued that Kenya, being the country from where Kanu was arrested and extraordinarily renditioned back to Nigeria, ought to have authorised his extradition.
“This allegation of his forceful abduction and rendition was never denied by the Respondent.
“More so my lords, the charge appears to give the lower court a global jurisdiction over offences that were allegedly committed by the Appellant, without specifying the location or date the said offences were committed.
“There was no need for the lower court to have retained the remaining seven-count charge.
“We are therefore urging my lords to strike out the remaining counts and hold that the Respondent has not established any prima-facie case against the Appellant for which he could be tried”, Ozekhome added.
Meanwhile, FG, through its lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for want of merit.
He maintained 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.
“My lords, it took four years and huge resources to get the Respondent arrested and brought back to face the charges against him.
“The Prosecution is ever willing and eager to proceed with trial of the Appellant.
“We are saying that the trial court was even wrong to have struck out the eight counts as it did.
“It is only after FG has produced all its witnesses and tendered its evidence that the Appellant could claim that no prima-facie case was established.
“Finally, we urge this court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit”, Kaswe added.
After it had listened to both sides, the panel said it would communicate a date for the judgment.
Former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Monday night.
The Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniete Iniedu, confirmed the development to Channels Television.
Okorocha, who was arrested at REIZ Continental Hotel in central Abuja, was, however, released on bail by the NPF following an hour of interrogation over allegations of criminal conspiracy, forgery and impersonation.
CSP Iniedu, who confirmed the arrest and subsequent release on bail to our correspondent, noted that the former governor was asked to return to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday for further interrogation as investigations into the allegations continue.
The arrest reportedly followed Okorocha’s failure to honour previous police invitations in connection with the ongoing investigation.
He was initially invited to the Force Headquarters on September 2, but the appointment was rescheduled to September 8 at the request of his lawyers, a date he reportedly failed to honour.
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has been appointed a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Presidential Campaign Council list released last night.
This is despite the fact that he is the National Leader of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Similarly, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, the National Leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the opposition Accord Party (AP), are on the expanded and all-inclusive team headed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Other members include Presidential Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo, and former House of Representatives member Patrick Obahiagbon.
Also named as members are former Osun APC governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, former National Legal Advisers Dr. Muiz Banire and Babatunde Ogala, Chief Ayiri Emami, Victor Giadom, Magnus Abe, and former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.
The list, according to a report by The Nation, reflects inter-party cooperation and harmony based on the shared vision of propelling the country to the horizon of progress.
The report quoted a statement by APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, as saying that the campaign council will be inaugurated tomorrow in Abuja.
Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has called for a thorough and impartial police investigation into the recent violence surrounding a political gathering in the state, assuring that anyone found responsible will face the law regardless of political affiliation.
Mbah, in an address to the people of Enugu State, expressed concern over reports of violence, particularly a shooting incident that left a citizen injured.
The governor said his immediate concern was the welfare of those injured, residents who experienced fear during the incident, and families affected by the violence.
He assured the victims and affected residents that their safety and well-being remained a priority for his administration.
“I know how much our people value the peace and security we have worked so hard to establish in Enugu. Incidents such as these cause anxiety and deserve our full attention,” the governor said.
Mbah stressed that every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, must be able to exercise their political rights without fear, intimidation or violence.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting lives, upholding the law and ensuring that justice was served without favour.
The governor also stated that, in view of the preliminary findings regarding the incident, he expected the police to conduct a comprehensive and impartial investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and identify those responsible.
According to him, anyone found culpable would be held accountable through the appropriate legal process, irrespective of their political connections.
“The Enugu State Government has made its position clear regarding allegations of involvement in this violence,” Mbah stated, reaffirming his administration’s responsibility to maintain peace and security across the state.
The incident has raised concerns over political tolerance and the safety of citizens participating in political activities in Enugu State.
The governor’s call for an impartial investigation underscores the need for the relevant security agencies to establish the facts surrounding the shooting and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
He concluded his address by thanking the people of Enugu State and praying for God’s continued blessings upon the state.
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