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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Federal Government has said the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was discharged, but not acquitted.
Recall that a three-member panel of the appeal court led by Justice Hanatu Sankey, on Thursday, held that the Federal Government flouted the Terrorism Act and breached the rights of Kanu when he was forcefully rendered back to Nigeria.
The appellate court, in a judegement delivered by Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, held that the Federal Government’s action tainted the entire proceedings it initiated against Kanu and amounted to an abuse of criminal prosecution in general.
The court further held that the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria, thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.
Adefope-Okojie voided and set aside the terrorism charges by the Federal Government against Kanu and also discharged him from the alleged offences.
Reacting to the judgement, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), said Kanu had not been acquitted.
Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Umar Gwandu, said: “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.
“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public. The decision handed down by the Court of Appeal was on a single issue that borders on rendition.
“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predates rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination. The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”