The Supreme Court postponed hearings in the case brought by Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), challenging the suspension of his bail until September 14.
In a brief order, a five-member panel of justices led by Justice John Okoro adjourned the case to allow the federal government’s counsel, Mr. Tijani Gadzali (SAN), to react to the appellant’s reply papers.
Although Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), pleaded with the Supreme Court to hear at least one of the two motions brought on the basis that Kanu’s health is rapidly failing, the federal government objected to the petition through his attorney.
After the adjournment, Ozekhome told reporters that it was due to the Supreme Court’s busy schedule and that all of his pleas with the panel of justices to get the hearing scheduled for the earliest possible date in May 2023 or early June failed due to how cases were brought to the apex court.
The Supreme Court gave the federal government permission to file nine fresh grounds of appeal against Kanu’s release as the proscribed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Supreme Court also gave the federal government permission to incorporate the nine new grounds in its modified Notice of Appeal dated October 28, 2022.
Ozekhome informed the court of his applications seeking bail for his client and another requesting his transfer to the Kuje Correctional Centre facility for proper medical attention due to his declining health while in DSS custody.
He further requested that the case be heard as soon as possible.
The Court of Appeal ruled on October 13, 2023, that Kanu’s coercive extradition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2022 violated both domestic and international law.
As a result, Kanu’s terrorism allegation was rejected before Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
