Again, Kanu sues FG, others to enforce his rights, seeks return to UK

Defendants shuns appearance in court
The leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has again dragged president Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to court, claiming N25 billion in his quest to enforce his fundamental rights, in respect of his unlawful expulsion from Kenya.

The suit was filed before the Federal High Court, Umuahia, Abia state.

But Kanu had earlier dragged the defendants before Justice Benson Anya of the Abia State High Court, who in his judgment February 19, 2022 refused to attend to the rendition aspect of the suit on the ground that jurisdiction on rendition/extradition was the exclusive right of the federal court.

Kanu and IPOB’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor filed both suits.

When the matter was called before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Umuahia on March 25, 2022, Ejimakor led Mr Ohaeto Uwazie, while the three defendants were neither present nor represented by counsel.

Ejimakor told the court that the defendants were duly served with the processes and urged the court to grant his client (Kanu) due reliefs against the respondents/defendants for failure to come or give court due notice.

The issue of jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter may be determined at the next sitting fixed April 27, 2022.

Ejimakor said the suit is primarily aimed at redressing the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Kanu from Kenya.

“It is a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

“I am asking the court to redress myriad of violations that came with the rendition, such as the torture, the unlawful detention and the denial of Kanu’s right to fair hearing as required by law before anybody is expelled from one country to the other,” he said.

According to Ejimakor, the suit is as a result of his considered decision that a fresh action before the Federal High Court will be the best route towards addressing the matter of rendition or unlawful expulsion, and its legal impacts on the prosecutorial powers of the Nigerian State.