The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a suit filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government until April 22, 2024. In the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022), Kanu accused the government of kidnapping him from Kenya and bringing him to Nigeria for trial.
Among the reliefs sought by Kanu are questions regarding the legal competence of trying him for the charges listed in the amended charge against him. He also questioned whether the manner in which he was abducted in Kenya and brought to Nigeria aligns with existing laws, citing relevant provisions of the Extradition Act and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
However, the Federal Government (FG) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in their preliminary objection, argued that the suit constituted an abuse of the court process. They urged the court to dismiss the case, highlighting that Kanu had previously filed a similar suit before a Federal High Court in Umuahia.
During the proceedings, Aloy Ejimakor, who took over the case from Mike Ozekhome (SAN), informed the court of the change in representation. In response, Justice Inyang Ekwo directed Ejimakor to verify whether a similar matter was pending before another court or if a judgment had been delivered in a similar suit.
The judge also ordered the issuance of a hearing notice to the absent defendants, signaling the need for proper service and notification to all parties involved in the case. The court is expected to reconvene on April 22, 2024, for further proceedings.
