The Supreme Court on Friday declined to give an order for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
The apex court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, but said to be written by Justice Garba Lawal, voided the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which has on October last year, ordered Kanu’s release and quashed the terrorism charges against him.
The Supreme Court held that although the Nigerian government recklessly and unlawfully renditioned Kanu from Kenya, such unlawful act has not divested any court from proceeding with trial.
Justice Lawal said that no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking Kanu’s release on the unlawful abduction from Kenya, adding that at the moment, the remedy for such action is for Kanu to file a civil matter against such an act instead of removing the powers of courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.
The apex court subsequently ordered that Kanu should go and defend himself in the remaining seven counts of terrorism charges against him.
