Massive jubilations greeted the Nigeria’s South East states as the Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday upheld the appeal and freed the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu had in his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted.
As soon as the verdict was given, huge vehicular and human traffic greeted the news of Kanu’s discharge by the court. Long queues of vehicles blaring and people singing waving leaves were glaring features among major streets in Umuahia, Awka and Enugu, among others.
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Reports from Abia, Ebony, Enugu and Anambra, indicated that immediately the news of Kanu filtered into the air, many youths erupted into wild ululation, with some chorusing, “Thank God, Onye Ndu (the leader) is freed at last.
Our reporter gathered that in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state capital, youths trooped out in groups to celebrate the news. An enthusiastic caller from Onitsha, Ike Chidiume, who could not conceal his feeling, broke down in tears of joy on hearing the news.
For Carol Obi, Enugu, resident, it was a moment of gratitude that, “at last the era of Monday-sit-at-home, will be a thing of the past”.
Across parts of Owerri such as Imo State University Junction area, Ikenegbu, Amakohia, Orji, Okigwe Road and Flyover junction, people were celebrating and ordering for drinks following the development.
At Flyover junction, a commercial driver was seen shouting and honking that Nnamdi Kanu had been freed at last.
He said, “Victory at last. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been freed. It is victory for Biafra.”
At IMSU junction, groups of youths were seen at different quarters shouting and singing following the development.
One of them was heard saying, “Victory has come to Ala Igbo at last. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a free man. There won’t be sit-at-home again. Glory be to God.”
However, the Court of Appeal declared as illegal and unlawful, the abduction Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria and quashed the entire terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
The Appellate Court held that the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.
The Appeal Court in a judgment by Justice Oludotun Adebola voided and set aside the charges by the Federal Government against Kanu.
The Appellate Court proceeded to discharge Kanu from the alleged offences.
Justice Adebola held that failure of Nigeria to follow due process by way of Extradition was fatal to the charges against Kanu.
The Appeal Court further held that the failure of the Federal Government to disclose where and when the alleged offences were committed was also fatal to the terrorism charges and made them liable to dismissal.
Confirming the development on his Facebook page, Kanu’s lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, wrote; “Appeal allowed, Oyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU, discharged and acquitted. We have won!”
Kanu was first arraigned on December 23, 2015 and was later granted bail on April 25, 2017.
Earlier, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, had on Tuesday, September 13, reserved its judgement on an appeal Nnamdi Kanu filed to quash the terrorism and treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The IPOB leader, who is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, approached the appellate court to query the legal competence of the charge pending against him.
He specifically prayed the appellate court to review the April 8 ruling of the trial court which struck out only eight out of the 15-count charge.
Insisting that the charge FG entered against him had no basis in law, Kanu, in his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted.
Kanu equally urged the appellate court to order his release on bail, pending the determination of his appeal.
