The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has yet to commence over one month after the Supreme Court judgment.
The apex court had on December 15, 2024, set aside a judgment by the lower court that dismissed the terrorism charges against Kanu.
The apex court held that the Court of Appeal was wrong for Kanu’s acquittal because the prosecution violated his rights.
According to the court, “No legislation in the country stripped the trial court of the jurisdiction to go ahead with Kanu’s case despite the illegal action of the FG.
“The law must take its course. The Court of Appeal was wrong that the trial court couldn’t try him. The appeal is allowed, and the cross-appeal is dismissed.”
Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Saturday, the lead counsel for IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the legal team had yet to receive the certified true copy of the judgment.
He noted that efforts made including writing to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, had yielded no result.
Ejiofor said, “Trial? The court has yet to give us a date. We have not even got the Certified True Copy of the judgment. We have made several efforts to ensure we get a copy but, the efforts have been abortive. This includes writing the Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
The apex court Spokesperson, Festus Akande, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filling this report.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.
He was subsequently granted bail in April 2017, and fled the country after an invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the Nigerian military in September 2017.
Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021.
