The detained leader of the South-East separatist movement, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has nine new grounds for appeal, according to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The development came about as a result of Kanu’s appeal against an appellate court’s decision to overturn its earlier order ordering the Federal Government to release him after it dismissed terrorism-related charges against him.
Kanu had petitioned the Supreme Court on November 3, 2022, to appeal the appellate court’s decision to stay the execution of its earlier order clearing him of all charges and ordering his release from the Department of State Services (DSS)’s custody.
On Thursday, when the appeal hearing was resumed, a five-member panel of the supreme court presided over by Justice John Okoro granted the Federal Government’s request to present nine new grounds for appeal against the release of Kanu. This decision was made in response to a motion made by Tijani Gadzali, the Federal Government’s attorney.
The Federal Government was given permission by the Supreme Court to include the nine new grounds in its amended notice of appeal from October 28, 2022.
Nnamdi Kanu’s attorney, Mike Ozekhome, however, informed the court of his motions to have his client released on bail as well as another motion to have him transferred to the Kuje Correctional Facility so he can receive proper medical care due to his deteriorating health while in the Department of State Services (DSS)’s custody.
Ozekhome prayed for the case to be heard quickly as well.
The Federal Government’s attorney requested a postponement in order to file a counter affidavit during his remarks on the motion to transfer Kanu out of the custody of the DSS, claiming that he had just taken over the case.
The court advised Ozekhome to withdraw the pending motions so that he could concentrate on the main appeal because it appears likely that hearing the motion, particularly that seeking the transfer of Nnamdi Kanu, may likely delay the hearing of the main suit.
The court subsequently set May 11 for the hearing on the main appeal and pending motion.
