By John Ikani
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed all charges against leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The appellate court, in a decision by a three-man panel led by Justice Jummai Hanatu, discharged and acquitted him of the seven-count charge pending against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the court, Kanu had no case to answer as the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction to try him in the first place.
The court which said Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and forceful extradition to Nigeria was illegal, added that the Nigerian government failed to disclosed the location the IPOB leader was arrested, a development it said lends credence to allegations that Kanu was kidnapped.
Thursday’s ruling comes as Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome prayed the court to strike out the remaining seven-count charges that the Federal High Court retained after striking out eight from a total of 15 charges.
The appellate court held that FG’s action tainted the entire proceeding it initiated against Kanu and amounted to “an abuse of criminal prosecution in general”.
“The court will never shy away from calling the Executive to order when it tilts towards Executive recklessness”, the Appellate court held, even as it accused FG of engaging in “serious abuse of power”.
Kanu is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for 15 count charges bordering, including treasonable felony and terrorism, offences he allegedly committed in the course of his separatist campaigns.
