Court again clears Nnamdi Kanu, denies Nigerian government’s application on rendition suit

The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital on Wednesday denied the Nigerian government’s application to transfer the suit filed against it by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Recall that Kanu through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had sued the Nigerian government, challenging his abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya. The IPOB leader in the suit among other things is praying the court to order his return to Kenya where he was abducted or UK where he resides. The Nigerian government had through its counsel, Simon Enoch of the Federal Ministry of Justice, in adopting his written addresses on Tuesday had prayed the court to dismiss the suit claiming that it is an abuse of court processes. He further argued that the matter had already been decided by the Abia State High Court, and further claimed that Kanu had earlier jumped bail before his re-arrest in Kenya. The federal government also applied that the case be transferred to Abuja. But on Wednesday morning, the presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, denied the Federal government’s application to transfer the suit to Abuja. The judge ruled that “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”. Confirming the court’s decision on his Twitter page, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor stated that “Federal High Court, Umuahia denies Federal government’s application to transfer the ‘extraordinary rendition’ suit to Abuja, and rules that “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”. Reading of the rest of the judgment continues.” He added that “Court denies federal govt’s second preliminary objection to its jurisdiction based on Res Judicata. The Court rules that the Abia State High Court judgment of Jan 19, 2022 was specific to the 2017 military invasion, not the 2021 extraordinary rendition.”

The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital on Wednesday denied the Nigerian government’s application to transfer the suit filed against it by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Recall that Kanu through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had sued the Nigerian government, challenging his abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya. The IPOB leader in the suit among other things is praying the court to order his return to Kenya where he was abducted or UK where he resides. The Nigerian government had through its counsel, Simon Enoch of the Federal Ministry of Justice, in adopting his written addresses on Tuesday had prayed the court to dismiss the suit claiming that it is an abuse of court processes. He further argued that the matter had already been decided by the Abia State High Court, and further claimed that Kanu had earlier jumped bail before his re-arrest in Kenya. The federal government also applied that the case be transferred to Abuja. But on Wednesday morning, the presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, denied the Federal government’s application to transfer the suit to Abuja. The judge ruled that “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”. Confirming the court’s decision on his Twitter page, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor stated that “Federal High Court, Umuahia denies Federal government’s application to transfer the ‘extraordinary rendition’ suit to Abuja, and rules that “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”. Reading of the rest of the judgment continues.” He added that “Court denies federal govt’s second preliminary objection to its jurisdiction based on Res Judicata. The Court rules that the Abia State High Court judgment of Jan 19, 2022 was specific to the 2017 military invasion, not the 2021 extraordinary rendition.”