The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on Tuesday accepted, with reservations, the verdict of the Supreme Court which invalidated the earlier order by the Court of Appeal in Abuja and insisted that he must face trial over treason charges.
He expressed optimism that he was not broken by whatever situation, saying he shall emerge victorious in the end.
The Supreme Court had set aside a judgment by the Lower Court that dismissed the terrorism charges against Kanu.
The Apex Court in the judgment prepared by Justice Garba Mohammed had held that the Court of Appeal was wrong and that the trial court couldn’t try him because the prosecution violated his rights, while also condemning the invasion of Kanu’s residence, declaring it irresponsible.
The Supreme Court held that there is no law in the country stopping a trial based on the violation of the rights of a suspect.
Lawyer to Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, in a statement after the weekly visit to his client in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), said the IPOB leader was was fully briefed, in company of Mike Ozekhome (SAN), on the salient findings of the Apex Court.
Ejiofor said, “Onyendu seized the opportunity offered by the visit to remind Ezigbo Umuchineke that he is not broken by whatever situation he is faced with, but they should be doubly assured that he shall emerge victorious in the end.
“The eventual verdict of the Supreme Court was conveyed to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and he expressed reservations on the outcome. However, Onyendu elected to accept this outcome because of the finality of the Supreme Court decisions, and not because they are infallible, but because they are infallible for the fact that the Supreme Court is the final court in the land.
“Nevertheless, in accepting this verdict, Onyendu specifically requested that some compelling questions be put out publicly to the discerning members of the public, who are keenly following the trajectory of this case: to wit: Did the decision of the Supreme Court which substantially sanctioned the Federal Government’s illegal act of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria, effectively repeal the following Nigerian laws which were all cited in our brief before the Supreme Court?
“The above laws, for the avoidance of any doubt, are all Nigerian laws on extradition and extraordinary rendition of citizens from foreign lands. Other international Instruments and Conventions to which Nigeria is a state party and bound by, which made similar provisions include: The OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism; Principles and Guidelines on Human and Peoples’ Right while Countering Terrorism in Africa; and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
“Public perspective/positions on the possible implication of the Supreme Court’s judgment of December 15 2023, on the above laws, will further demonstrate the grave prejudice Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has suffered in the hands of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Friday Olokor, Abuja
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