The Supreme Court has fixed December 15 to deliver judgment on the appeal seeking to compel the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had in a judgment delivered on October 13, 2022, ordered Kanu’s release.
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In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court also quashed the terrorism charges filed against the IPOB leader by the Federal Government.
However, dissatisfied with the judgment, the Federal Government appealed at the Supreme Court.
At the proceedings on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, fixed the matter for judgment after the parties adopted their final briefs.
While adopting his final brief, Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozehkome (SAN), urged the court to not only order the immediate release of Kanu but to also award a heavy punitive cost against the government.
“We urge My Lords to uphold our cross-appeal and do substantial justice to this matter in favour of the respondent who has been in detention since June 29, 2021, even after the lower court ordered his release. My Lords should also order that he should never be prosecuted again on the same counts.
“They are still holding him unconstitutionally. We pray My Lords to deliver justice and use this case, just like in Ojukwu vs. State, to demonstrate that no man or government should be above the law,” Ozekhome said.
However, FG’s lawyer, Tijani Ghazali (SAN), urged the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which ordered Kanu’s release.
He also prayed for the court to order the resumption of his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges.