Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has stated that the Supreme Court’s failure to release the Certified True Copies (CTC) of its judgment in Kanu’s case violates the Constitution.
Ejimakor told The Guardian, yesterday, that it has been 33 days after the final judgment in the case of the Federal Republic of Nigeria versus the IPOB leader.
He said that following delivery of the said judgment on December 15, 2023, applications were filed for the release of the Certified True Copies (CTC) of the judgment, and the enrolled order. 33 days after, the Supreme Court is yet to comply.
According to Ejimakor, Section 36 (7) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that: “When any person is tried for any criminal offence, the court or tribunal shall keep a record of proceedings, and the accused person or persons authorised by him shall be entitled to obtain copies of the judgement in the case within seven days of the conclusion of the case.”
Insisting that doing so is a fundamental right and, thus, enforceable, Ejimakor recalled that the Supreme Court had, in the said judgment, ordered that the case be remitted to the Federal High Court for consideration of a trial.
He added: “The Federal High Court cannot proceed with consideration of any trial without the certified judgment and enrolled order. Similarly, Kanu’s lawyers cannot proceed with his defense without the CTC of the said judgment and the order.”
