The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has pledged a reward of N1 million to any Nigerian law student who can find a judicial precedent where a stay of execution was granted in a criminal proceeding involving an acquitted and discharged individual.
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Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021 over alleged terrorism charges, announced this pledge through his legal team led by his Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, during a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
This challenge stems from the October 2022 stay of execution order granted by Justice Haruna Tsamani of the Appeal Court, which effectively delayed Kanu’s release despite a prior ruling by a three-man Appeal Court panel acquitting him.
The Appeal Court had earlier quashed the charges against Kanu, citing the Nigerian government’s violation of international law in his extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
The court deemed the rendition and subsequent detention as “gross violations” of Kanu’s fundamental human rights, describing the actions as “an abuse of criminal prosecution” and “executive recklessness.”
Kanu’s legal team criticized the stay of execution order as unprecedented and illegal, emphasizing that no legal basis exists for restraining a discharged person from regaining freedom.
Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team Appeals Secret Trial and Detention in Abuja Court
Legal Perspective:
Kanu’s lawyers also highlighted a ruling by the Supreme Court, which recognized the illegality of revoking his bail due to the military invasion of his residence during Operation Python Dance.
They further referenced an Enugu High Court ruling from October 2023 that declared the proscription of IPOB and related actions against Kanu as unconstitutional and discriminatory based on ethnicity.
Despite these judgments, Kanu remains in DSS custody, leading his legal team to question whether Nigerian court orders hold value when it comes to his case.
Kanu’s Challenge:
Through this initiative, Kanu aims to spotlight what his legal team describes as legal and constitutional violations against him. The team reaffirmed his right to self-determination as enshrined under Nigerian laws and international charters.
Kanu’s lawyers have called on Nigerian authorities to respect court rulings and uphold the principles of justice, as enshrined in Section 287 of the Nigerian Constitution. They reiterated the need for accountability, emphasizing that justice delayed is justice denied.