Nnamdi Kanu's trial suspended indefinitely as both sides locked in dispute over court of appeal judgement

JUSTICE Binta Nyako of the federal high court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned the trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) leader Nnamdi Kanu pending the resolution of the federal government’s appeal against the October 13 judgment ordering his release.

Highly controversial, Mr Kanu has been campaigning for the recreation of the independent republic of Biafra which broke away from Nigeria between July 1967 and January 1970 during the civil war. His campaign, which has led to the phenomenal growth of Ipob, has set him at odds with the Nigerian government who him arrested and put on trial for treason.

While the case was still pending, Mr Kanu was granted bail in April 2017 on health grounds but skipped his bail after flouting the conditions given to him by the court and fled Nigeria. In a dramatic development, in June last year, Mr Kanu was abducted in Kenya and flown to Nigeria, where he has since been arrayed in court in Abuja, with fresh charges added to the pending ones.

Challenging the nature of his arrest, Mr Kanu went to court saying he was illegally abducted in Nairobi, as he was no extradition warrant was signed and he was no deportation order was issued against him. Ruling on the matter on October 13, the Court of Appeal held that the federal government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Mr Kanu to Nigeria, thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.

However, the Nigerian government has refused to release Mr Kanu following the judgement and an appeal seeking reversal of the Court of Appeal judgment is pending before the Supreme Court. Yesterday, Mr Kanu refused to appear in court in protest against the refusal of the federal government to release him.

This refusal to appear in court was conveyed to Justice Nyako by the federal government counsel Mohammed Abubakar. He informed the court that all entreaties made to persuade Mr Kanu to have a change of heart were rebuffed.

However, Mr Kanu was said to have stood his ground not to appear in court until the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal is respected and obeyed by releasing him from the custody of the Department of the State Service in Abuja. There are no signs, however, to indicate that the federal government is remotely considering releasing him.