NewStats: 3,264,027 , 8,182,346 topics. Date: Monday, 09 June 2025 at 11:08 AM 6x483z

…Insists he’s threat to national security.


…As court reserves ruling on request to stay execution of judgement

The Federal Government yesterday adduced reasons it has not obeyed the judgement of the Court of Appeal that ordered the release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.

Government in a fresh affidavit filed before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, maintained that Kanu posed a flight risk, insisting he would escape from the country as soon as he was freed from detention.

The affidavit was attached in of an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court verdict that quashed the entire 15-count terrorism charge the federal government preferred against the embattled IPOB leader.

Arguing the application yesterday, an Assistant State Counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. David Kaswe, told the court that the case against Kanu bordered on national security.

Kaswe argued that Kanu’s fundamental rights should not supercede the interest of the nation.

Relying on the decided case law in Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs Asari Dokubo, the federal government argued that once a case touched on national security, the right of the individual affected took secondary place.

“It is important to appreciate the gamut of depositions in our application. The Respondent is a flight risk person and one of the ground of our application is that this matter touches on national security of the state.

“We further rely on the case of FRN Vs Dokubo, where the Supreme Court held that where national security is threatened or when there is likelihood of it being threatened, human rights take secondary place.

“Once there is a threat to national security, human rights of any individual can be suspended until such threat is taken care of.

“Once security of the nation is in jeopardy, the individual right may not even exist,” government’s lawyer argued.

Besides, he told the court that intelligence report in government’s possession indicated that releasing the IPOB leader from detention would worsen the security situation in the South East.

“The defendant has shown that he has the capacity to jump bail or to escape from lawful custody. There is reasonable intelligence that the enforcement of judgement of this court, pending determination of our appeal at the Supreme Court, may impact negatively on the declining security in the South East.

“No court can close its eyes on activities happening around it. As we speak, the entire social media is awash with threat to security in the country.

“We believe that there is an exceptional circumstance to warrant this court to grant our application.

“We urge this court to resolve the sole issue we raised and find our application meritorious, in the interest of justice and unity of the country,” federal government’s lawyer added.

However, Kanu’s lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, urged the appellate court to dismiss FG’s application which he said was tantamount to seeking the stay of the liberty of a citizen.

Ozekhome argued that contrary to FG’s position, Kanu’s release from detention would guarantee peace in both the South East and the country

He said: “In fact, my lords, on the contrary, the release of Kanu will actually bring peace and tranquility to the South East in particular and the nation in general

“This was demonstrated after the judgement of this court that ordered the release of the Respondent. Immediately the judgement was delivered, there was so much joy and happiness in the entire South East. There was so much jubilation and merriment.”

He argued that Dokubo’s case was different from that of Kanu.

According him, while Dokubo applied to be granted bail, pending the determination of the charge against him, in Kanu’s case, the appellate court had already terminated his trial and ordered his release.

Relying on the case of Olisa Metuh Vs FRN, Kanu’s lawyer argued that the law forbade the grant of stay of execution in a criminal case.

He told the court that the IPOB leader did not jump bail, stressing that he only escaped from the country to save his life, after soldiers illegally invaded his house in 2017, in an operation that led to the death of 28 persons.

Ozekhome argued that the federal government, being in contempt of the judgement of the appellate court, could not approach it to seek any favourable order.

“They are already in contempt of order of this court. This application is therefore nothing but a slap on the face of this court,” he said.

After the three-man of justices of the appellate court, led by Justice Haruna Tsanami, had listened to both sides, it reserved its ruling till a date to be communicated to the parties.

Meanwhile, six Igbo traditional rulers yesterday stormed the court to demand the release of the detained IPOB leader.

The monarchs, who were all dressed in their regallia, said they were in court to show solidarity to their son, even as they stayed and observed the proceedings till the end.

The traditional rulers that were in court included HRM Eze Innocent Nwaigwe, Secretary Umuahia North Council of Traditional Rulers; HRM, Eze Nnamdi Ofoegbu, Chairman Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers; and HRM Eze Iheanyichukwu Ezigbo, Chairman Ibeku council. Others are HRM Eze Pastor Philip Ajomiwe, immediate past Chairman, Umuahia North Council; and HRM Eze Eddy Ibeabuchi, former Chairman Umuahia North Council and HRM Eze Ben Oriaku, Ikwuano LGA.

It will be recalled that the appellate court had in a judgement delivered on October 13, ordered Kanu’s release from detention, even as it terminated further proceedings on the case the federal government entered against him.

The court said it was satisfied that FG flagrantly violated all known laws when it forcibly rendered Kanu from Kenya to the country for continuation of his trial.

It held that such arbitrary use of power by the Nigerian government, divested the trial court of the jurisdiction to continue with Kanu’s trial.

Though FG had since gone to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgement, it, however, in line with the rules, it approached the Court of Appeal to seek a stay of execution of the verdict

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/10/biafra-why-we-wont-release-kanu-fg-tells-appeal-court/

Keep your explanations.

What we see you doing is pure wickedness

Kindly me for your academic assignments, projects and research works.
Check on my signature down on how to me.

Lawless Janjaweeed Government

APC now chooses which order to respect, but same Government recently twisted ASUU to respect an Industrial Court ruling and return to work.

Clueless evil government.

What I know is that Ohamadike will laugh the last laugh and he who laugh last, laugh the best laugh.

More of this is the reason I hate this government.

In summary

FEAR

Well federal government should respect the decision of court regardless of anything.

All I know is, once another person moves into power, he'll be released ASAP,

be it Obi , Tinubu or Atiku.

What have been said, cannot be unsaid.

.

No matter the sentiments, Nobody is above the Law, including the FG.

If you wont release him then you eat him naaa

Kanu who's 15-count terrorism charges has all been striked out by the appeal court, yet you keep him in custody. No single respect for the rule of law. This is someone who's fighting against the marginalisation of his region.

However, this same government willing integrates repentant boko haram into the society. These are people who were confirmed to have raped, killed and maimed innocent citizens in droves. Some of them even end up in the nation's security outfits where they can continue the bloodletting.

Well, my only joy right now is that Peter Obi will soon take over the reins of power so that Nigerians will experience the real change.

make them release this man nau....our judiciary system self no get mouth again.... chai... what a corntree

Free MNK
Forza Biafra
Aloy Ejimakor, Mike Ozekhome, and Ifeanyi Ejiofor are well-grounded lawyers.

Na me dey bang this babe but the problem is that she is a screamer, she screams damn too much. Since Buhari has decided to keep holding Kanu in Kuje, that gives me more time to oil her engine till the terrorist bonobo is released. Me thinks Buhari will never in his fulani life release that idiot of Nnamdi Kanu that threatened to go to Abuja and bring the head of Buhari but more likely that Tinubu releases him when he assumes office next year.
This babe too get olosho vibes and she too dey make scream anytime i dey flog am.

If they would release Kanu, then they should bring Abubakar Shekau back to life.

He was busy creating a millitary in another country, and the sponsors kept supplying them guns and bullets.

Mumu followers thinks those guns and bullets would be used on northerners, come out on Monday naa, or send your children to school. We will start seeing implication of these on education and economy of southeast in few years.

Meanwhile, sponsors don't care, as far they get their country, and you that Kano has deceived, and made to feel other parts of the country is new York, we will see how they will give you ordinary LG chairman, when sponsors, and big men start coming in and claiming lands, oil wells, presidency etc, you will realize it's a rich man's world.

If anyone can come out and ask the government to cut small country for him, me sef and my people, we want Osogbo,it's not even a state, it's a capital, so the government should cut osogbo for us

FGN will lose

Appeal court should give FGN the same treatment they gave ASUU....Obey fess and then complain

Useless man that suppose to be kill. Causing violence in South East.

I thought the govt said they wanted legal institutions to decide Kanu's fate. How come they are not ready to follow the same legal path judgment?

Kilode, wetin we no go see for this Apc government

The federal government argument is foolish to say the least ... comparing asari case that he was asking for bail to kanu's case that has been determined is like comparing orange to goat ( not even Apple)

There is no justification for holding kanu absolutely none

If it were a northern terrorist, the government would have released him citing that a court of competent jurisdiction ordered his release. They really fear Kanu

Because you are bandits loving people

Hnmm.

But you compelled ASUU to call off the strike based on a court order..

Na waooo

ANYWAY I THE NOTION THAT KANU SHOULD REMAIN IN CAPTIVITY UNTIL 2024

Smh in dismay

Simple, because he is not an bokoharam , as you prefer releasing terrorists than those they terrorize. We would see where this game ends

Can yhu imagine the audacity?

Government of miscreants and rascals.