₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, struck out a N50 billion suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, struck out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.

When the matter was called on Thursday, neither Kanu nor the Federal Government was represented by any lawyer.
Justice Ekwo observed that in the last adjourned day, while no lawyer was in court for the IPOB leader, the Federal Government was represented in court by a counsel.

The judge, who said that the case had taken three adjournments due to no representation, consequently struck out the case.

Times of Nigeria reports. reports that Kanu had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 1st and 2nd defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022.

Kanu, who sued the defendants over allegations bordering on violation of his rights, alleged that he was kidnapped from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria to stand trial.

He wants the court to determine “whether the way and manner in which the plaintiff was abducted in Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria is consistent with extant laws.”

Specifically, he cited “the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the African Charter on human and peoples rights (ratification and enforcement) Act Cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Article/Part 5 (a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa.”

Kanu also wants the court to determine “whether by the operation of Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff can be competently/legally tried for offences stated in counts 1 to 14 of the 15-count amended charge.

He said the counts “are not the offences for which he was surrendered or extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria.”

In the originating summons, the IPOB leader is seeking 11 reliefs, including an order for his release from Department of State Services (DSS)’ custody.

He is also seeking an order restraining the defendants from taking any further step to prosecute him over criminal charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, currently pending before a sister court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako.

Kanu also asked the court to award the sum of N100 million to him “as the cost of this action.”

But in a notice of preliminary objection dated June 6, 2022, but filed June 27, 2022, the Federal Government and AGF prayed the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as “an abuse of court process.”

Giving one ground of argument, the defendants argued that Kanu had filed an earlier suit with similar facts before a Federal High Court, Umuahia Division in suit number: FHC/UM/CS/30/2022.
They further argued that the two defendants were parties in the suit.

According to the defendants, this renders this suit as an abuse of court process that deprived the court of the jurisdiction to entertain the instant suit.

NAN earlier reported that Aloy Ejimakor had, in one of the proceedings, told Justice Ekwo that he had filed a notice for a change of counsel.

Ejimakor told the court that he would be taking over the case from Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who filed the suit on April 7, 2022.

InfoGuru118:
https://timesngr.com/2025/04/10/breaking-court-dismisses-nnamdi-kanus-n50b-lawsuit-against-fg/

slimfit1:
To be honest we weren't expecting anything more or less from Nigerian judges.

AZOE1:
Nigeria Govt should just release this man.
Some people has committed more atrocities than this man and they are moving freely in this country

AZOE1:
Nigeria Govt should just release this man.
Some people has committed more atrocities than this man and they are moving freely in this country

AZOE1:
Nigeria Govt should just release this man.
Some people has committed more atrocities than this man and they are moving freely in this country

yinkus6750:
This matter is surely not a judicial matter.
All parties involved need to seek a political resolution with sincere undertaking of no threat to the nations unity.
That's when the case can be resolved.

AZOE1:
Nigeria Govt should just release this man.
Some people has committed more atrocities than this man and they are moving freely in this country

YeyeGbami:
When agbotikuyo enter aso rock in 2091, he will release you. Keep calm and chop FG food.

OmoEko4Real:
Namdiot Coward Cownu is living in Lala Land.

You instigated violence, bragged about buying arms to kill Nigerian security officials, told your zero IQ IPOB ret@rded terrorist followers to burn down Lagos and kill officials, but you think that you are innocent.

The mkpuru mirri that this fool was smoking must still be affecting his empty skull.

In most societies, this fool would have been sentenced to death by now, but everything in Nigeria is played with emotions instead of facts.