Nnamdi Kanu Trial: Court Orders FG To Pay IPOB Leader N1 Billion

The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State led by Justice Benson Anya has ordered the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to pay Nnamdi Kanu N1billion.

Justice Benson Anya ruled that the funds is for the infringement of Nnamdi Kanu's fundamental rights.

The Nigerian Army invaded Nnamdi Kanu's residence in Abia State in 2017 after a heavy clash between the Army and IPOB members on Sunday, September 10, 2017.

Justice Anya also directed the government and the Army to apologise to Kanu for the violation of his Fundamental Rights and the illegal invasion of his home.

Justice Anya described the invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu residence as notorious and brazen. The judge advised the Federal Government to adopt a political resolution in dealing with issues involving Kanu.

He, however, struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu’s legal team, including his repatriation from Kenya and continued detention by the DSS.

Recall that Aloy Ejimakor, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, had urged the court to declare the invasion of the residence of the IPOB leader in Abia State in 2017 as unlawful and an infringement of his constitutional right.

The lawyer urged the court to declare his rearrest and torture in Kenya last year as unlawful.

The suit, which Ejimakor filed in August, further sought the court to stop the Nigerian government from prosecuting Kanu, mandating it to release the IPOB leader and tender an apology to Kanu, among others.