Appeal Court Reserves Judgement In FG’s Request Against Releasing Nnamdi Kanu

 

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday said it will communicate a new date for ruling after the Federal Government approached the court to seek for a stay of execution of its judgment that ordered the release of the Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.

 

DailyPost reported that Justice Haruna Tsanami, who presided over the hearing of the application, announced that a date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties when ready.

 

The Federal Government, while arguing the application, told the Court of Appeal that the Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu is a huge threat to national security and must be kept in detention to have relative peace.

 

Besides, government asserted that Kanu is a flight risk and would escape out of the country if the judgment which ordered his release was not stayed.

 

In a motion for stay of execution of the October 13 delivered in favour of Kanu, the Federal Government insisted that the Biafra nation agitator would throw the nation’s security into jeopardy and prejudice the public and private economic activities.

 

The Federal Government counsel, Mr David Kaswe, while arguing the motion informed the Appellate Court that Kanu had earlier demonstrated to be flight risk when he jumped out of the country when granted bail in the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

 

Kaswe insisted that it is in the interest of justice and the need to have relative peace in the South East and the whole Nigeria that Kanu be made to remain in detention pending the resolution of an appeal already filed at the Supreme Court.

 

He therefore prayed the court to stay the execution of the judgment to enable Kanu remain in custody pending when Supreme Court would finally determine the pending appeal.

 

However, lead counsel to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN dismissed the claim that Kanu jumped bail in his trial at the Federal High Court.

 

Ozekhome claimed that the Military unjustly invaded Kanu’s ancestral home and that it took God’s grace for his client to escape death.

 

The senior lawyer informed the court that the Federal Government was in contempt of court by not obeying the October 13 judgment and as such, has no moral and legal rights to make the request from the same court.

 

Contrary to the Federal Government claim, Ozekhome said that it is only the release of his client that will ensure peace and tranquility not only in the South East but the entire country.

 

”My Lord, the action of the Federal Government in respect of Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court. It is also an invitation to anarchy and I humbly urge this Court to dismiss the application for lacking in merit.” he argued.

 

Justice Tsanami after taking arguments from parties announced that judgment has been reserved and that lawyers would be communicated when it is ready.