Judge’s absence stalls Kanu’s N50b lawsuit against FG

Absence of Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, stalled a N50 billion suit filed by the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the matter, which was fixed for yesterday, could not proceed because Justice Ekwo was on an official engagement.

The judge was said to be sitting in another division of the court.

The case was subsequently fixed for February 11, 2025 for further mention.GF) as first and second defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ ABJ/CS/462/2022.

Kanu, who sued the defendants over allegations bordering on violation of his rights, alleged that he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to stand trial.

He wants the court to determine “whether the way and manner the plaintiff was abducted in Kenya and moved to Nigeria is consistent with extant laws”.

In the originating summons, the IPOB leader is seeking 11 reliefs, including an order for his release from Department of State Services (DSS) custody.

He is also seeking an order restraining the defendants from taking any further step to prosecute him over criminal charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, currently pending before a sister court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako.

Kanu also asked the court to award the sum of N100 million to him “as the cost of this action”.