Court of Appeal dismisses case against Nmandi Kanu

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has discharged and acquitted the leader of the proscribed group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.

The IPOB leader had been standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 15-count charges bordering on treasonable felony, terrorism, among others.

In April, Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed eight of the 15 amended counts filed against the IPOB leader by the federal government.

<!–

–>

Delivering its judgement on Thursday in Abuja, a three-man appeal panel led by Justice Jummai Sankey acquitted Mr Kanu of the charges.

According to the panel, the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try the case, saying that his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria were in flagrant violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.

The court held that the 15-count charge preferred against Kanu did not disclose the place, date, time and nature of the alleged offences before being unlawfully extradited to Nigeria, in clear violation of international treaties.

<!–

–>