The lawsuit filed by the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, against the Nigerian government and the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has been adjourned, indefinitely, on Tuesday, by a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.
The IPOB leader filed the lawsuit in April 2022 for the judicial interpretations of relevant laws and statutes regulating the alleged abduction and extradition of Kanu from Kenya by the Nigerian government and its agencies.
In a statement issued by Kanu’s lead lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Tuesday, the court adjourned the case till further notice.
Ejiofor said the “court insisted that it was limited to entertain only matters coming up for ruling and judgment, and consequently adjourned the suit.”
According to the statement, “This suit was instituted in April 2022 to invite the Federal High Court to interprete the relevant sections of the Domestic and International Laws which the Nigerian government and its lawless security agencies flouted in their criminal abduction and extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya.
“Far-reaching reliefs were sought by Nnamdi Kanu in this suit, which would be granted when the interpretation of these laws is in the positive.
“The matter came up today, being the 11th day of July 2023, for the hearing of the suit; however, the court could not proceed with the hearing as originally scheduled. The court insisted that it was limited to entertain only matters coming up for ruling and judgement and consequently adjourned the suit.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that the fulcrum of the present suit, i.e., the questions we are asking the court to resolve in this present suit, have been effectively and holistically resolved by the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered in favour of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the 13th day of October 2022, which is binding on this Federal High Court.
“In view of the serious importance attached to all Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s cases, our Lead Counsel- Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, flew all the way from Calabar where he is currently engaged in election petition matters, to attend today’s proceeding and as usual, do justice to same, unfortunately, the matter did not go on.
“We shall keep Ezigbo Umuchineke abreast of every development in Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case and every situation around him, even as we are relentlessly pursuing his unconditional release.”
