Nnamdi Kanu: Court Strikes Out Terrorism Charges, Orders IPOB Leader's Release

The terrorism charges filed against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi were struck out by an Appeal Court in Abuja on Thursday.

The panel led by Jummai Sankey also struck out the other seven charges against Kanu, stating that the lower court "lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the suit".

According to the court, the IPOB leader's extradition from Kenya in June 2021 to Nigeria without following the extradition rules was a flagrant violation of Nigeria’s extradition treaty and a breach of the IPOB leader’s fundamental human rights.

The court further held that there was no denial by the federal government's lawyer, David Kaswe, in the appeal as to the submissions of Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s counsel, that the separatist leader was “extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya.”

It stated that the failure of the federal government to adequately respond to Kanu’s arguments gave merit to the appeal.

The appellate court stated that the Federal High Court failed to examine the findings of the prosecution as it would not have tried Kanu on the grounds that he was not “illegally brought into the country.”

It subsequently ordered the IPOB leader's release from the custody of the State Security Service (SSS).