The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled that the rendition of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya was illegal and therefore he should be discharged and acquitted.

The court was ruling in the appeal filed by Kanu, challenging the criminal charges against him.

In the update on the court ruling provided by Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, he said, “UPDATE Onyendu MAZI NNAMDI KANU’s abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya is declared illegal and consequently constitutes a bar to further proceeding /trial. Court held that It was done in clear and egregious violation of extant international laws; there is no justification whatsoever even the warrant of arrest issued in NIGERIA cannot justify the illegality in the abduction and extraordinary rendition of ONYENDU MAZI NNAMDI KANU.

“Appeal allowed, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU, discharged and acquitted. We have won! Victory victory victory victory.”

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Kanu had been re-arraigned before a Federal High Court on amended 15 counts bordering on treasonable felony preferred against him by the Nigerian government.

However, on April 8, Justice Binta Nyako struck out eight of the 15 counts.

While ruling on the preliminary objection seeking to quash the charges, the judge said counts 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 had not disclosed any offence against the defendant (Kanu).

The charges that were struck out below are as follows: “Count 6: Made broadcasts to attack officers of the Nigeria Police Force; Count 7: Made broadcasts in which he incited members of the public to hunt and attack officers of the Nigerian Police Force.

“Court 8: Made broadcasts in which he directed members of the IPOB to manufacture bombs; Court 9: Made broadcasts on diverse dates in furtherance of terrorism against the Nigeria state and with intent to destabilise the fundamental political and economic structures of Nigeria, incited members of the public to stop the Anambra governorship election.

“Count 10: Incited members of the public to destroy public facilities. Count 11: Threatened members of the public not to come out on 31st May, 2021. Count 12: Made broadcasts with the intention to incite members of the public to stage a violent revolution in furtherance of acts of terrorism. Count 14: Directed members of the public to destroy the public transport system in Lagos, resulting in major economic loss to the governor.”

Nyako had said that counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 15 showed some allegations, which the defendant had to answer.

However, Kanu through his team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, praying the court to quash the remaining seven counts for being devoid of merit.

The appeal is equally praying the court to order his release on bail, pending the determination of his appeal.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor Esq, IPOB’s lead counsel in a statement sent to SaharaReporters said judgement would be delivered on Kanu’s appeal on October 13, 2022 at 2pm.