A high court in Umuahia, Abia state, will on January 19 deliver judgment in the fundamental human rights suit instituted by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) against the federal government.

The IPOB leader had through his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor filed a lawsuit on violation of his human rights. The lawsuit has Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami, Department of State Services (DSS), the federal government of Nigeria, chief of army staff, inspector-general of police (fifth) and three others as defendants. 

Kanu in his lawsuit, sought for an order declaring that his extradition from Kenya to Nigeria, his continued detention, and the planned prosecution in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 “is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional”.

He is also seeking for an order to compel the respondents to pay him N5 billion in damages as monetary compensation for the “physical, mental, emotional, psychological and other damages” suffered as a result of the alleged infringement on his fundamental rights.

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The separatist leader prayed; 

“An order mandating and compelling the respondents or their agents to forthwith release the applicant from detention and restitute or otherwise restore applicant to his liberty, same being his state of being as of 19th June 2021; and to thereupon repatriate the applicant to his country of domicile (to wit: Britain) to await the outcome of any formal request the respondents may file before the competent authorities in Britain for the lawful extradition of the applicant to Nigeria to continue his prosecution in charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 (federal republic of Nigeria v. Nnamdi Kanu).

“An order mandating and compelling the respondents to issue an official letter of apology to the applicant for the infringement of his fundamental rights, and publication of the said letter of apology in three (3) national dailies.”

Justice Benson Anya presided over the lawsuit and it was concluded on December 10, 2021.