Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), N50 billion lawsuit against the Federal Government on Monday was halted by the absence of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Federal High Court.
Due to Justice Ekwo’s official commitment to another court division, the case, which was scheduled for Monday, was unable to proceed.
The case was then scheduled for additional discussion on February 11, 2025.
During one of the previous proceedings, Kanu’s attorney, Aloy Ejimakor, informed Justice Ekwo that he had submitted a notice for a change of counsel.
Ejimakor informed the court that he would be taking over the case from Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who had filed the lawsuit on April 7, 2022.
Recall that the IPOB leader had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, as the first and second defendants in the FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022 case.
Kanu, who sued the defendants on charges of violation of his rights, claimed that he was kidnapped in Kenya and transported back to Nigeria to stand trial.
He asks the court to decide whether the plaintiff’s abduction in Kenya and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria was under existing laws.
Particularly, he cited “the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the African Charter on human and people’s rights (ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Article/Part 5 (a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa”.
The IPOB leader also urged the court to determine whether by the operation of Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff can be competent/legally tried for offences stated in counts 1 to 14 of the 15-count amended charge.
