Nnamdi Kanu to remain in detention till Sept as supreme court adjourns case

The supreme court has adjourned the hearing of the suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), to September 14.

The apex court adjourned the suit on Thursday.

Kanu had approached the court to appeal the verdict of the appeal court stopping his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

BACKGROUND

On October 28, 2022, the court of appeal granted a stay of execution on its verdict which discharged Kanu of terrorism charges filed against him by the federal government.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Haruna Tsanami, the appeal court granted the application filed by the federal government pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the supreme court.

Kanu has been in detention since he was brought back from Kenya on June 19, 2021.

The IPOB leader was subsequently re-arraigned on an amended 15-count charge.

On April 8 2022, Binta Nyako, a federal high court judge in Abuja, struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge.

The remaining seven counts were later quashed by the court of appeal on October 13.

THE COURT PROCEEDINGS

During Thursday’s proceedings, the apex court granted the application of Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, to file additional processes in response to Kanu’s filing, which was done on Tuesday.

The apex court said even if it proceeds to hear the appeal, there is no space within its calendar to write and deliver the verdict within the 90-day deadline.

The case was therefore adjourned to September 14.