Nnamdi Kanu: FG, Kanu Awaits Appeal Court’s Judgement Date

Both the federal government and the counsel of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome are awaiting the Court’s judgment date after today’s hearing.

This follows the federal government’s request for the application of a stay of execution of the court’s judgment that ordered the release of Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice Haruna Tsanami, who presided over the hearing of the application, announced that a date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties when ready.

In its argument at the Court, the federal government described Kanu as a huge threat to national security and therefore should be kept in detention for peace to rein.

Naija News reports that in a motion for a stay of execution of the October 13 judgment that freed Kanu, the federal government insisted that if Kanu is released, he will cause a state of insecurity in the country and also prejudice public and private economic activities.

The government in its argument also said Kanu was a flight risk and would escape out of the country if the judgment which ordered his release is not stayed.

Counsel for the federal government, David Kaswe, argued that Kanu had earlier demonstrated to be a flight risk when he jumped out of the country when granted bail in the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kaswe told the Appeal Court that his retention was in the best interest of justice.

He added that the release of Kanu would prevent relative peace in the South-East and the whole of Nigeria, therefore he should remain in custody till the resolution of an appeal already filed at the Supreme Court.

“My Lords, our concerns, the concern of the Federal Government is the threat the release of Kanu poses to the security of this country and its political, social and economic activities. We will not be able to lay hands upon him if he is allowed out of detention and finds his way out of the country,” Kaswe said.

Hence he prayed for the court to grant the execution of the court judgment so that the IPOB leader will remain in custody pending when Supreme Court would finally determine the pending appeal.

However, lead counsel to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), said the federal government was in contempt of court by disobeying the October 13 judgment and that it had no moral and legal rights to make the request from the same court.

He told the court that contrary to the federal government’s claim that his client was a threat to security, his release will instead ensure peace and tranquillity not only in the South East but the entire country.

Ozekhome, in his argument also dispelled the federal government‘s claim that Kanu jumped bail in his trial at the Federal High Court.

He claimed that the Military unjustly invaded Kanu’s ancestral home and that it took God’s grace for his client to escape death.

“My Lord, the action of the FG in respect of Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court. It is also an invitation to anarchy and I humbly urge this court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit,” Ozekhome added.

It was reported that Justice Tsanami, after taking notes of arguments from both parties, announced that judgment had been reserved and that lawyers would be communicated when it was ready.

This article was originally published on Naija News