The Supreme Court has fixed December 15 as a day to deliver judgment on the appeal that is seeking the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from detention.
The apex court reached this decision after counsel to the embattled IPOB leader, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, asked the court to compel the federal government to release his client unconditionally.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, therefore, slated December 15 as the judgment day after counsels for both parties adopted their final arguments.
Vanguard reports that the federal government was represented by a team of lawyers that were led by an Acting Director of civil Appeals at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. T. A. Gazzali, SAN, while Kanu’s legal team was led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN.
Even though Agabi, SAN, led Kanu’s team of lawyers, however, it was Prof. Mike Ozehkome, SAN, who presented his appeal to the apex court panel.
Ozehkome, SAN, prayed the court to not only order the immediate release of his client from detention but to equally award “very heavy and punitive costs” against FG.
“We urge my lords to uphold our cross-appeal to do substantial justice to this matter and to the respondent, who has been in detention since June 29, 2021, even after the lower court ordered his release, and that he should never be prosecuted again on the same counts.
“They are still holding him unconstitutionally. We pray to my lords to deliver justice and use this case, just like in Ojukwu v. State, to demonstrate that no man or government should be above the law,” Ozehkome pleaded.
