The family of the leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected the Supreme Court’s verdict that overturned a judgement by a lower court, which earlier dropped terrorism charges against him.
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that trial on the charges should continue and Kanu be held in custody.
Kanu’s younger brother, Emma, told journalists that the court verdict was unfortunate.
He said, “It is extremely unfortunate that the Supreme Court could come up with such a judgment.
“This case began from the Federal High Court which of course lacked the jurisdiction to try Nnamdi Kanu from here, through High Court to the Appeal Court that discharged and acquitted him and then a stay of execution was filed against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and it was granted on civil proceedings which is very wrong. Legally, it is wrong. But it was granted.
“I believe, there is no due diligence in this case and for those who have been handling the matter before now, there was no due diligence.
“Now taking the case back again and having acknowledged in the court today by the judge that delivered this judgment that the way and manner Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was brought back to Nigeria was illegal. He agreed with the Appeal Court that it was extra-ordinary rendition. He said the invasion of his house was also illegal and that the security agents acted irresponsibly.
“He said also that the revocation of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s bail was wrong and that it shouldn’t have happened in the first place, but he concluded by saying that the appeal by the Federal Government was granted, while the cross-appeal was not allowed, referring the case to square one, that is where we came from, which is the Federal High Court Abuja.
“Bearing in mind that some of the charges have been quashed, which all know was the truth, where are they going to start from? Of course, what is left is a bailable offence which Nnamdi Kanu never committed.
“So, I am yet to understand what is actually playing out, but I can assure that we are not happy and nobody is happy.”
After skipping bail in 2017, Kanu was rearrested in Kenya in 2021 and charged with terrorism.
Friday’s ruling by Judge Lawal Garba reinstating Kanu’s seven-count terrorism trial at a lower federal court has effectively extended his detention, which began two years ago after his arrest.
“Even though illegalities were committed with the deployment of brutal force to invade his home after he was granted bail and the extraordinary rendition (from Kenya) into the country, there is no legislation yet that has ousted the jurisdiction of the court to try him,” Garba said.
Kanu had denied the charges of terrorism and knowingly broadcasting falsehoods, which are linked to social media posts he issued between 2018 and last year.
Kanu’s IPOB campaigns for the secession of a part of southeastern Nigeria where the majority belong to the Igbo ethnic group. Nigerian authorities have labeled IPOB a terrorist organisation.
An attempt by the southeastern region to secede as the Republic of Biafra in 1967 – the year that Kanu was born – triggered a three-year civil war that killed more than 1 million people.
