Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Following today’s hearing, both the federal government and the counsel for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, are awaiting the Court’s judgment date.
This follows the federal government’s request for a stay of execution of the court’s judgment ordering Nnamdi Kanu’s release.
Justice Haruna Tsanami, who presided over the application hearing, stated that a date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties once it was ready.
In its argument before the Court, the federal government described Kanu as a major threat to national security and argued that he should be detained in order for peace to reign.
According to Track News, the federal government argued in a motion for a stay of execution of the October 13 judgment that freed Kanu that releasing him would create insecurity in the country and jeopardize public and private economic activities.
In its argument, the government also claimed Kanu was a flight risk who would flee the country if the judgment ordering his release was not stayed.
David Kaswe, counsel for the federal government, argued that Kanu had previously demonstrated that he was a flight risk when he jumped out of the country after being granted bail in the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kaswe told the Appeal Court that his retention was necessary for the sake of justice.
He added that Kanu’s release would jeopardize relative peace in the South-East and throughout Nigeria, so he should remain in custody until the Supreme Court rules on an appeal already filed.
“My Lords, our concern, the Federal Government’s concern, is the threat that Kanu’s release poses to the security of this country and its political, social, and economic activities.” We will be unable to apprehend him if he is released from detention and leaves the country,”
Kaswe stated.
As a result, he asked the court to grant execution of the court judgment so that the IPOB leader could remain in custody until the Supreme Court resolved the pending appeal.
Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Kanu’s lead counsel, said the federal government was in contempt of court by disobeying the October 13 judgment and that it had no moral or legal right to make the request from the same court.
He told the court that, contrary to the federal government’s claim that his client posed a security risk, his release would instead ensure peace and tranquillity throughout the country, not just the South East.
Ozekhome also refuted the federal government’s claim that Kanu jumped bail during his Federal High Court trial.
He claimed that the military invaded Kanu’s ancestral home unjustly and that his client was only saved by God’s grace.
“My Lord, the FG’s action in relation to Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court.” It is also an invitation to anarchy, and I respectfully request that this court dismiss the application for lack of merit,” Ozekhome added.
According to reports, after taking notes on both parties’ arguments, Justice Tsanami announced that the judgment had been reserved and that lawyers would be notified when it was ready.
