JUST IN: Kanu sues FG, seeks release from detention, N100bn compensation

The leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has dragged the Federal Government to court asking for a compensation of N100 billion following the refusal of government to comply with judgment of the Court of Appeal of 13 October 2022, which discharged the terrorism charges filed against him.

The court had also asked the Federal Government to release Kanu who has been in custody of Department of State Services, DSS since commencement of his fresh trial last year from detention.

However, the Federal Government had gone back to the appellate court with the argument that freeing Kanu will pose security risk to the nation. The court is yet to rule on the suit.

See the full statement below:

CONTINUED VIOLATION OF COURT ORDER – MAZI NNAMDI KANU SEEKS 100BILLION NAIRA DAMAGES AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA, FROM THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT ABUJA, FOR HIS CONTINUED ILLEGAL/UNLAWFUL DETENTION IN DEFIANCE TO ORDER OF COURT:

Following the continued grandstanding of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to implement/carryout the Orders/Judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered on the 13th day of October 2022, which in effect, discharged Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of the frivolous charge brought against him and consequently, prohibits the FGN from further detaining him, and/or subjecting him to further trial or prosecution by any court in Nigeria.

It will be recalled that following the judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered on the 13th day of October 2022, which in effect struck out the retained seven count charge hitherto pending against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, there is no existing Order of a Court of Law, which presently sanction or legitimize the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as all Courts of first instance in Nigeria has effectively, from this 13th day of October 2022, divested of all jurisdictional powers to either issue Orders in respect thereto or even undertake any further criminal trial/prosecution against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In the Originating Court Process, duly initiated on behalf of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by our erudite Lead Counsel – Chief Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on the 21st day of October 2022, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1945/2022 : BETWEEN MAZI NNAMDI KANU VS FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & ORS, supported by six (6) paragraph affidavit, deposed to by Chimuanya Emenari Esq, a legal practitioner in the law firm of I. C. Ejiofor & Co., clearly verifying the facts of these gross violation of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s constitutionally guaranteed Rights, following his continued detention in a solitary confinement in the custody of the DSS in flagrant disobedience of Court Orders, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is substantially seeking for the following Reliefs, anchored on the forgoing grounds, which the Reliefs are predicated upon to wit:

A DECLARATION that the continued detention of the Applicant by the Respondents, from the 13th day of October 2022 till date, is illegal, unlawful, oppressive, unconscionable, and unconstitutional as it violates the Applicant’s Fundamental Rights to Dignity of Human Persons, Personal Liberty and Right to Freedom of Movement as guaranteed by Sections 34, 35, 36, 39, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) 2011.

AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT directing the Respondents to unconditionally release the Applicant from their custody forthwith.

COMPENSATORY AND EXAMPLARY DAMAGES of N100,000,000,000.00 (One Hundred Billion Naira Only), against the Respondents for the gross violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty, and freedom of movement.

AN ORDER OF THIS HONOURABLE COURT directing the Respondents to tender unreserved public apology to the Applicant in two National Dailies, and any other forms of reparation that the Honourable Court may deem fit to grant.

GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE RELIEFS ARE SOUGHT:

By virtue of Section 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) 2011, and Order 1 Rule 2(1) of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, any person who alleges that any of the Provisions of Chapter 4 of the Constitution to which he is entitled to, has been, is being or likely to be contravened in any State in relation to him may apply to the High Court in the State for redress.

The Applicant is entitled to his Fundamental Rights to Dignity of Human Person, Personal Liberty and Freedom of Movement guaranteed by Sections 34, 35 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) 2011.

The continued and unlawful detention of the Applicant, whose health is daily deteriorating, from the 13th day of October 2022, till date, violates the Applicant’s Fundamental Rights to Personal Liberty, Dignity of Human Person, and Freedom of Movement, and consequently, illegal and unconstitutional.

The Court of Appeal held that the Applicant is prohibited from being detained, tried, or otherwise dealt with in Nigeria, for/or in respect of any offence allegedly committed by him before his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria, thus, the continued detention by the Respondents, is arbitrary and unlawful.

The Respondents have no authority or justification whatsoever, to detain the Applicant in complete defiance and disregard to the positive Order of the Court of Appeal, discharging the Applicant and barring the Respondents from detaining and/or prosecuting him.

The Applicant is constitutionally entitled under Section 35 subsection (6) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) 2011 to the payment of compensation and public apology from the Respondents for the gross violation of his Rights to Dignity of Human Person, Personal Liberty, and Freedom.
We will keep you all abreast of development in this Case as it progresses.

Thank you all, Ezigbo UmuChineke and remain hugely blessed
We move!
Signed: Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq (KSC)
IPOB’s Lead Counsel
26th day of October 2022.