By Adadareporters
Barr Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Friday, reacted to the Supreme Court verdict which ruled that Kanu should face charges preferred against him by the federal government despite that FG did not follow the established international rules in bringing him to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021.
Ejimakor, reacting to the ruling via his X handle, wrote, “Sadly, the Supreme Court upheld the Appeal against #MNK’s discharge but it also held that the invasion of his house, revocation of his bail and rendition were all UNLAWFUL. The Court has remitted the case to the Federal High Court to deal with it in line with the rulings it made.”
Our correspondent reports that the Apex Court had upheld the federal government’s alleged treason and terrorism charges instituted against Kanu.
The court held that even though Kanu was illegally repatriated to Nigeria, it would not stop the trial court from presiding over the case.
It stated that, “The court of appeal was wrong to say that the trial court cannot try Kanu. It can.”
Reading the judgement prepared by Justice J. Garba, Justice Agim Emmanuel held that if the police should illegally violate the right of an accused, it shouldn’t block the court from jurisdiction.
According to him, “There is no legislation that provides that a trial court will not have jurisdiction where a prosecution violates a person’s right. Certainly, we decided not to go with the Court of Appeal decision.”
He however said the apex court strongly condemned what the prosecution did, adding that Nigeria must protect its image through adherence to International and local law.
Quoting him, “The Nigerian law has not stated that the court should decline jurisdiction from trying a case even if law enforcement has violated the rights of a person.”
Kanu faces charges partaining to treason and running a proscribed group.
