FG files nine new grounds appeal against Nnamdi Kanu’s release

The Federal Government of Nigeria has filed nine new grounds of appeal against the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the South-East separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The development followed an appeal by Kanu, challenging the decision of an appellate court to void its earlier order, which ordered the Federal Government to release him after it quashed terrorism charges against him.

Kanu had on November 3, 2022, approached the Supreme Court, to challenge the decision of the appellate court, which on October 28, 2022, stayed the execution of its earlier order acquitting him of all charges and directing his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

At the resumed hearing of the appeal on Thursday, a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice John Okoro, while ruling on the motion by the counsel to the Federal Government, Tijani Gadzali, granted leave to the Federal Government to bring nine new grounds of appeal against the release of Kanu.

The apex court also granted leave to the Federal Government to include the nine new grounds as part of its amended notice of appeal dated 28th October 2022.

However, Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, informed the court of his motions seeking his client’s bail and another seeking his transfer to the Kuje Correctional Facility to get proper medical attention citing his failing health at the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ozekhome also prayed for an accelerated hearing of the matter.

Speaking on the motion for the transfer of Kanu out of the custody of the DSS, the Federal Government’s counsel prayed for an adjournment to file a counter affidavit, stating that he just took over the matter.

As it seems likely that hearing the motion, particularly that seeking the transfer of Nnamdi Kanu may likely delay the hearing of the main suit, the court advised Ozekhome to withdraw the pending motions and enable him to focus on the main appeal.

The court subsequently fixed May 11 for a pending motion and main appeal hearing.