The lead Counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a brief before the Appeal Court against the ruling of the Abuja Federal High Court.
In the brief, Aloy Ejimakor had objected to the jurisdiction of the Abuja Federal High Court to subject Kanu to trial.
Recall that Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court had dissolved the objections to her jurisdiction on June, 19 2024.
However Kanu had headed to the Court of Appeal after Nyako ruling.
What They’re Saying
In the brief of argument filed on Friday, Ejimakor had said:
“Today, I filed a brief before the Court of Appeal raising objections to the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to subject Nnamdi Kanu to trial.
“I raised six issues for the consideration of the Court Appeal and several prayers including halting Kanu’s trial and discharging him of all charges currently standing against him, releasing him from detention. We expect to prevail on the merits.
“This is the Appellant’s Brief of Argument filed pursuant to the Notice ofAppeal against the ruling ofthe Federal High Court (Abuja) delivered on the 19th day of June 2024 refusing the Appellant’s Preliminary Objection to the jurisdiction of the trial court.
“The Ruling, subject of the instant appeal is at Pages 413 – 415 of the Record of Appeal while the Notice of Appeal is at Pages 416 – 428 of the Record of Appeal. The Notice of Appeal bears 5 grounds from which the issues herein have been distilled.
“This case was initially commenced on or about 14th Oct.”
Why It Matters
As the leader of IPOB, Kanu’s case has very significant political implications.
Whatever the outcome, it would greatly influence the separatist group’s activities and the Nigerian government’s approach to handling separatist organisations.
If the Appeal Court rules in his favor, it could stop his trial and lead to his release from detention.
