The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N50 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo struck out the case on Thursday due to lack of diligent prosecution, noting that neither Kanu nor the Federal Government was represented by legal counsel when the matter was called.
He further observed that the suit had experienced three adjournments without proper representation, prompting the court’s decision to discontinue the case.
Kanu had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation, alleging rights violations in connection with his arrest and extradition.
He claimed he was abducted in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria unlawfully, and sought a declaration that the action violated various provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
In his suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022), Kanu requested 11 reliefs, including an order for his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), an injunction to stop further prosecution in his ongoing criminal trial, and N100 million as legal costs.
The Federal Government, in response, filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the suit was an abuse of court process.
The government noted that Kanu had previously filed a similar case at the Federal High Court in Umuahia (FHC/UM/CS/30/2022), involving the same parties and facts.
At an earlier hearing, Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, informed the court of a pending change of legal representation, stating he would be taking over the case from Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who initially filed the suit in April 2022.