Rights violation: Court orders FG to pay N1billion to Nnamdi Kanu over damage to property, tender apology

A High Court in Abia State on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, ordered the Federal Government to pay the sum of N1 billion to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and issue a letter of apology to him.

This is even as Kanu, in Abuja, pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges slammed on him by the FG.  

Kanu had approached the High Court in Umuahia, Abia State capital, demanding N5 billion over the invasion of his father’s house by the military on September 10, 2017.

In a ruling on Wednesday, according to his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, the Court presided over by Justice Benson Anya stated that the Federal Government violated the IPOB leader’s fundamental rights.

The Court also recommended political solution to the agitation for the restoration of the defunct Biafra Republic championed by IPOB.

Kanu’s lawyer made this known in a tweet, saying: “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu WINS as Abia High Court rules that the Federal Government violated his fundamental rights. Orders the Federal government to pay N1b to him and issue a letter of apology to him.

“Most importantly, the Court recommended political solution to the #Biafran agitation.”

Meanwhile, in the federal capital,

Kanu, on Wednesday, challenged the terrorism charge filed by the Federal Government .

Kanu, through his lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told the trial Judge, Justice Binta Nyako that the amended 15-count charge preferred against his client was unmeritorious and should be thrown out by the court.
 
The senior lawyer urged the court  not to waste its judicial time on the matter because the charges were watery. 
 
Earlier, the counsel to the Attorney-General of Federation (AGF), Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the matter was scheduled for arraignment of Kanu and prayed the court to allow the defendant take his plea.
 
After the 15 counts bordering on terrorism were read to the IPOB leader and he pleaded not guilty, Labaran said the prosecution was ready for trial as two witnesses were already in court.
 
But Ozekhome objected to the request that the trial should commence.
 
He argued that a preliminary objection, asking the court to quash the charges had been filed after studying the charges.

He said the whole counts were incompetent and could not stand the test of time.
 
The lawyer, who argued that the case was already dead on arrival, argued that the defence motion should be taken before commencing the trial in order not to waste the judicial time of the court. 
 
Justice Nyako fixed Feb. 16 for hearing the preliminary objection.

NAN reports that Kanu was arrested on Oct. 14, 2015 on 11 count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.

A judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja revoked Kanu’s bail that was granted him on health ground and issued a bench warrant for his arrest on the same date, over his failure to appear in court for hearing.

He has, upon jumping bail, been accused of engaging in subversive activities that include inciting violence through television, radio and online broadcasts against Nigeria and Nigerian State and institutions.

Kanu was also accused of instigating violence especially in the Southeastern Nigeria that resulted in the loss of lives and property of civilians, military, para military, police forces and destruction of civil institutions and symbols of authorities. (Based on reports by NAN and The PUNCH)