IPOB leader, Kanu, protests arrest in Kenya, seeks apology from Buhari, N5bn damages

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has challenged his illegal arrest, torture, and extradition to Nigeria by the Nigerian government. Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, approached the court seeking the enforcement of the fundamental rights of Nnamdi Kanu. He is also seeking apology from the federal government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, in addition to payment of N5 billion damages.

Accordingly, a State High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday ordered substituted service of an application for enforcement of the fundamental rights filed by Nnamdi Kanu on the Nigerian government.

Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, in the suit, protested that extra-judicial actions against Nnamdi Kanu commenced in 2017; saying the illicit actions include an extra-judicial plot to take away Kanu’s life in Abia State; which led to his involuntary flight to exile; his abduction in Kenya, and his extraordinary extradition to Nigeria.

Ejimakor argued that the unlawful acts complicate the prosecution of Kanu by the Nigerian government; insisting that they must be cleared by the court before the prosecution of Kanu can continue.

It was highlighted that the relief sought is a declaration that the military invasion into Nnamdi Kanu’s building and premises at Isiama, Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State, on 10th September 2017 by the Nigerian government or their agents is illegal, unconstitutional, and constitutes an infringement of Kanu’s fundamental rights.

He also argued that KANU’s arrest in Kenya by the Nigerian government or their agents without due process of law, his torture, and his detention in Kenya by the government is unconstitutional.

Ejimakor, then, demanded an order of injunction restraining the Nigerian government or its agents from taking further steps in the prosecution of the case files by the federal government following the said unlawful expulsion from Kenya to Nigeria.

The counsel further seeks an order compelling the government or their agents to forthwith release Kanu from detention and repatriate him to his country of domicile to await the outcome of any formal request the Nigerian government may file before the competent authorities in Britain.

Ejimakor also demanded an order compelling the Nigerian government to issue an official Letter of Apology and pay the sum of N5 billion to Nnamdi Kanu.

The court issued an order substituting a service of application, also fixed hearing of the case on September 21, 2021, in Umuahia, Abia State.