The case between the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the Federal government
of Nigeria has lasted for about five years now.
Since 2018 till now, Kanu has been charged
with treasonable felony. FG said that Kanu between 2018 and 2021, made a
broadcast received and heard in Nigeria with the intent to incite violence, in
furtherance of an act of terrorism against Nigeria and its people, and directed
members of the public to burn down every federal facility in Lagos resulting in
major economic loss in the country.
However, appearing in court today, FG through
its lawyer, Mr. David Kaswe, told court that the Federal government spent huge
resources to get Nnamdi Kanu back to the country. He maintained that the IPOB
leader was brought back to the country by due process of the law, contrary to
postulations in some quarters.
His words: “My lords, it took four years
and huge resources to get the Respondent arrested and brought back to face the
charges against him.
“The Prosecution is ever willing and eager
to proceed with trial of the Appellant.
“We are saying that the trial court was
even wrong to have struck out the eight counts as it did.
“It is only after FG has produced all its
witnesses and tendered its evidence that the Appellant could claim that no
prima-facie case was established.
“Finally, we urge this court to dismiss the
appeal for lacking in merit”, Kaswe added.
In his argument, according to VANGUARD, Chief Ozekhome, SAN,
alleged that his client (Mazi Kanu) was forcefully abducted from Kenya and
illegally renditioned back to the country.
He told the court that his client was first
arraigned on December 23, 2015 and was later granted bail on April 25, 2017.
“My lords, he was enjoying this bail
without breaching the terms. However, he was in his ancestral home when agents
of the Respondent invaded his home in September 2017. He barely escaped alive
by sheer providence and found himself first in Isreal and later in London.
“When the Appellant travelled from London
to Kenya, agents of the Respondents, on June 27, 2021, forcefully abducted the
Appellant, tortured and renditioned him back to the country without following
any extradition process”, Ozekhome submitted.