The Supreme Court on Friday denied the bail application of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, effectively nullifying the earlier order of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which ordered his release on bail.
In the judgment written by Justice Garba Lawal and read by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court voided and set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which in October last year ordered the release of Kanu and also quashed the terrorism charges against him.
Supreme Court held that the Nigerian government’s reckless and unlawful rendition of Kanu from Kenya has not divested any court from proceeding with the trial.
Justice Lawal said that no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking Kanu’s release on mere unlawful abduction from Kenya, adding that at the moment, the remedy for such action is for Kanu to file a civil matter against such act instead of removing the powers of courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.
The apex court subsequently ordered that Kanu should go and defend himself in the remaining seven-count terrorism charges before a Federal High Court in Abuja.