The Supreme Court on Friday nullified the Court of Appeal’s decision to release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from detention.
The apex court acknowledged the FG’s “irresponsible” forceful return of Kanu from Kenya, but deemed it insufficient to divest the trial court’s jurisdiction.
The court ruled that there is no legislation in the country that stripped the trial court of the jurisdiction to proceed with Kanu’s case, despite the illegal action that the FG took against him.
In the judgement that was prepared by Justice Garba Mohammed but read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court held that the remedy open for Kanu was for him to institute a civil action against the government.
The court criticized the FG for revoking Kanu’s bail after he escaped security agents’ invasion, urging the government to maintain its image locally and internationally.
The IPOB leader, who was first arrested by security agents in Lagos on October 14, 2015, has been in detention since June 29, 2021.