The Supreme Court’s judgement, which ordered the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to face treasonable felony charges, has been described as a product of Igbophobia.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) which stated this in reaction to the judgement on Friday, asked President Bola Tinubu to order the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to file a nolli prosequi discontinuing any trial against the IPOB leader
HURIWA, in a statement made available to PlatinumPost by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the decision by the justices of the apex court to set aside the ruling of Court of Appeal that granted Kanu’s freedom, showed that they are suffering from Igbo phobia and do not wish the Igbo region well.
“Specifically, the supreme Court has nullified the judgment of Court of Appeal that ordered FG to release Nnamdi Kanu.
” The Supreme Court, on Friday, nullified the judgment of Court of Appeal that ordered the Federal Government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
” Though the apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of Justices, acknowledged that FG acted “irresponsibly” when it forcefully brought Kanu back to the country from Kenya, against all known laws, however, it held that it was not enough to divest the trial court of its jurisdiction to continue with the case.
“It held that there is no legislation in the country that stripped the trial court of the jurisdiction to go ahead with Kanu’s case, despite the illegal action that FG took against him.
” In the judgement that was prepared by Justice Garba Mohammed but read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court held that the remedy open for Kanu was for him to institute a civil action against the government,” the statement said.
HURIWA, however , strongly carpeted the Supreme court and fully backed the well considered judgment of the Court of Appeal which quashed the trial of Nnamdi Kanu including building its sound judgment on the violation of international laws by thenn President Muhammadu Buhari, who ordered the illegal rendition and abduction of Kanu from Nairobi Airport in Kenya back into Nigeria wearing handcuffs.
“It is a shame that the highest court in the land can actually reach a determination that a citizen’s human rights was violated by the Federal Government through unlawful abduction, but the same Supreme Court is waiting for a phantom legislation to unleash its legal venom against offenders who committed the unlawful act and who are now without immunity including erstwhile President Buhari and his AGF Abubakar Malami. This is preposterous, ” it said.
Questioning why the Supreme Court of Nigeria had to on the basis of whimsical excuses that the Appeal court’s freedom granted to Kanu was based on sentiments and not on law therefore overruling the sound judgment of the Appeal court, HURIWA alleged the current justices at the Supreme court have a long history of dishing out rulings that had contributed to the instability and insecurity that has engulfed much of South East.