Court of Appeal dismisses IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal, upholding his conviction and life sentence over claims of rights violations

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, upholding his life imprisonment conviction.

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The appeal challenged alleged violations of Kanu’s fundamental rights by the Director-General of the Department of State Services and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

A three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that the appeal lacked merit and had become academic following Kanu’s conviction on November 20 by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Ugo noted that claims of rights violations, including denial of adequate medical care, dignity, and freedom of religion, could no longer be entertained as Kanu was no longer in DSS custody but held at Sokoto Correctional Centre.

Justice Ugo highlighted that Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, had confirmed the transfer to Sokoto Correctional Centre at the start of proceedings, rendering requests for relocation from DSS custody irrelevant.

The judge added that Kanu had previously expressed a preference for prison custody, and his prayers had been overtaken by events following the lawful conviction.

The appeal sought to overturn the July 3 ruling of retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights enforcement suit for lack of credible evidence.

In the original December 2021 suit, Kanu alleged deteriorating health while in DSS custody and claimed that medical personnel attending to him were unqualified.

DSS counsel Idowu Awo countered that no proof had been presented showing medical personnel were unqualified, while AGF lawyer Simon Enoch urged the court to dismiss the application.

The trial court held that Kanu had not provided credible evidence of torture, religious rights violations, or inadequate medical care, affirming that detainees’ rights must not infringe on the peace of others in custody.

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With the Court of Appeal’s decision, the Federal High Court’s ruling dismissing the suit for lack of merit is now fully upheld, closing Kanu’s legal challenge regarding alleged rights violations during his detention.