The Court of Appeal in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital has stopped the execution of its own judgment that quashed the terrorism charge and ordered the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Haruna Tsanami in a ruling upheld the Nigerian Government’s application and ordered that the execution of the judgment be put on hold.
The Nigerian Government had applied that the execution of the judgment be suspended pending the resolution of its appeal lodged at the Supreme Court.
Justice Tsanami in a brief ruling on Friday, October 28, 2022 held that the counter affidavit filed against the Nigerian Government application by Kanu’s legal team was misleading.
The Judge said that Kanu’s counsel did not properly state the facts of the matter as to warrant the court granting a stay of execution.
The court also ruled that the record of proceedings in respect of the Oct. 13 judgment be forwarded to the apex court within seven days to ensure an expeditious hearing.
Born on 25th September 1967, Nnamdi Kanu advocated for the secession and independence of Biafra from Nigeria and then founded the proscribed IPOB in 2014
On October 2015, he was arrested by Nigerian authorities on an 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.
He was granted bail on April 2017 for medical reasons.
However, Mr Kanu fled the country in September 2017 after an invasion of his home by the military in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State.
He was also accused of instigating violence, especially in the South East geo-political zone.
PIAK
