BREAKING: Court Clears Kanu Again Denies FG Application On Rendition Suit

Federal High Court in Umuahia Abịa State, Wednesday , rejected the Nigerian government’s request to move the lawsuit Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned IPOB leader, had brought against it to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

iexclusivenews reports that Kanu sued the Nigerian government, challenging his kidnapping and extraordinary rendition from Kenya, through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

Among other reasons, the IPOB leader in the lawsuit asks the court to order his return to Kenya, where he was kidnapped, or to the UK, where he currently resides.

In adopting his written remarks on Tuesday, the Nigerian government requested that the court dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that it is an abuse of the legal system through its attorney, Simon Enoch of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

He added that the Abia State High Court had already rendered a decision in the case and asserted that Kanu had already violated his bail conditions prior to his re-arrest in Kenya.

Additionally, the federal government requested that the case be moved to Abuja.

However, iexclusivenews Nigeria reports that Justice Evelyn Anyadike, the presiding judge, rejected the Federal government’s request to move the case to Abuja on Wednesday morning.

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According to the judge, “Umuahia has jurisdiction to hear and decide the suit.”

Confirming the court’s decision on his Twitter page, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor stated that

“Federal High Court, Umuahia denies Federal government’s application to transfer the ‘extraordinary rendition’ suit to Abuja, and rules that “Umuahia has the jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit”. Reading of the rest of the judgment continues.”

He added that “Court denies federal govt’s second preliminary objection to its jurisdiction based on Res Judicata. The Court rules that the Abia State High Court judgment of Jan 19, 2022 was specific to the 2017 military invasion, not the 2021 extraordinary rendition.”