The Appeal Court on Monday, October 24, 2022, reserved a ruling on an appeal filed by the Federal Government asking for a stay execution in its earlier judgement that freed Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
The three-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsamani reserved the judgement after taking submissions from the parties on the motion brought by the FG.
The Federal Government lawyer approached the appellant court asking it to stay the execution of the judgement the appellate court delivered on October 13.
The lawyer urged that the appellate court should stay the execution of the earlier judgement for security reasons, that releasing the respondent (Kanu) will impact negatively on the nation’s already fragile security.
The respondent’s counsel, Mike Ozekhume vehemently opposed the application to stay the execution of the judgement, arguing the federal government was only disobedient to court orders.
The lawyer argued further that there are no exceptional circumstances that warrant the respondent being held after the court judgement that freed him.
The lawyer also held that given the respondent’s failing health, the court should dismiss the application.
The Appeal Court had in a unanimous judgement by the three-man panel of justices, dismissed the charges against Kanu by the FG for flagrantly violating all known laws in the way it forcefully renditioned Kanu from Kenya to the country for the continuation of his trial.
