The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, October 14, has removed the terrorism charge the Federal Government had tagged the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu was discharged and acquitted of the seven-count charge pending against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja today.
In a decision made by a three-man panel led by Justice Jummai Hanatu, the appellate court reported that it was pleased that the FG flagrantly violated the law when it forcefully rendered Kanu from Kenya to the country for the continuation of his trial.
The court had held that such a remarkable rendition, without adherence to due process of the law, was a huge violation of all international conventions, protocols, and guidelines that Nigeria is a signatory to, and a breach of the appellant’s fundamental human rights.
The appellate court additionally, noted that FG failed to refute the allegation that the IPOB leader was in Kenya and that he was kidnapped and brought back to the country without any extradition proceeding.
According to them, any extradition request must be in written form, with a statement indicating the offense (s) for which a person is wanted.
Nevertheless, the appellate court stated that it would be prejudicial for it to make an order on the proscription of IPOB since the matter is still on appeal.
The prescription order by the lower law court would subsist until it is set aside, the appellate court finalized.
