Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Ahead of tomorrow’s (December 15) judgment of the Supreme Court over his continued detention, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has sought explanations from legal experts, lawmakers and the judiciary, over the legality of an accused person to still be held back in detention on civil proceeding after being discharged and acquitted of criminal charge.
Kanu who spoke through his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, queried the legality of his continued detention even after courts of competent jurisdiction had discharged and acquitted him.
He said that the Court of Appeal had quashed all 15 counts of treason charge preferred against him by the Federal Government, and subsequently declared that he should not face trial by any court in Nigeria following his extraordinary rendition which was a breach of international protocols.
According to the IPOB Leader, breaching the constitution to punish an individual does not portray the judicial system in a good light.
Price Emmanuel who spoke Thursday night after visiting his brother at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, where he is currently held, said that he gave him a message for the whole world.
He said: “I met with my brother today at the DSS headquarters and he gave me a message for the world. He said I should ask the legal experts, law students, lawmakers, Presidents – past and current, and all Nigerians to explain whether an accused person acquitted by the court of criminal charge should still be held on civil grounds?”
Speaking further, Prince Emmanuel said: “It’s not about Kanu; it’s about justice and the Nigerian judicial system. My brother was acquitted by the Appeal Court in a criminal matter, and instead of allowing him to go, the Federal Government went and obtained stay of execution. Where is that done in a criminal matter?”
Kanu’s brother said that the IPOB Leader further said that his matter had lingered due to “lack of due diligence,” contending that there is no legal grounds to still hold him after the Court of Appeal had acquitted him and ordered his unconditional release.
The Supreme Court had fixed tomorrow, December 15 to deliver judgment on Kanu’s continued detention.
There have been growing appeals both locally and internationally for the apex court to affirm the various Court judgments ordering Kanu’s unconditional release.
Enugu High Court had also in October, deproscribed IPOB, declaring that it is not a terrorist organisation.
