Appeal Court Strikes Out Nnamdi Kanu’s Rights Suit, Says Case Now ‘Academic’ After Terrorism Conviction
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out the appeal filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that the case lacked merit and had become purely academic following his recent terrorism conviction by a Federal High Court.
A three-member panel of the appellate court on Thursday held that Kanu’s complaints — that his fundamental rights to human dignity, medical care, and religious freedom were being violated in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) — could no longer stand in light of his conviction and subsequent life imprisonment sentence.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Ugo said the appellate court could no longer grant the reliefs sought by Kanu, especially his request to be transferred from DSS custody to Kuje prison.
Justice Ugo explained that Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, had confirmed during the day’s proceedings that the IPOB leader was now being held at Sokoto prison, making his application irrelevant.
“The substance of the case has become academic because the appellant is no longer in the custody he complained about,” the judge ruled.
He added that since Kanu had earlier expressed preference for prison custody over DSS detention, and has now been transferred to prison following his conviction, the court could no longer issue any contradictory order.
The Court of Appeal decision upholds a previous ruling issued on July 3 by now-retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights enforcement suit for lack of proof.
Thursday’s judgment comes just one week after another Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, convicted the IPOB leader of terrorism — formally ending a legal battle that has spanned nearly a decade and intensified tensions in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment, a verdict that continues to generate strong reactions across the country. Read More
