Court Strikes Out Appeal by Nnamdi Kanu

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal following his terrorism conviction, ruling that the case lacked merit and had become academic.

A three-judge panel held that Kanu’s claim—that his fundamental rights to human dignity, healthcare, and religion were being violated while in DSS custody—was no longer actionable after his life imprisonment sentence and transfer to prison.

Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, delivering the lead judgement, noted that Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed his client was now held at Sokoto prison, making his request to be relocated to Kuje prison moot.

Nnamdi Kanu Removed from Court for ‘Unruly’ Conduct — A Court of Appeal in Abuja strikes out an appeal by Nnamdi Kanu. Credit: Vanguard

The court concluded that it could not grant Kanu’s prayers since he was already in the custody he had sought.

The appeal challenged the July 3 ruling of the now-retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which had previously dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights suit for failure to substantiate his claims.

This decision follows Kanu’s conviction a week earlier by the Federal High Court, ending a decade-long trial that has heightened tensions in Nigeria’s South-East.

Justice James Omotosho sentenced the IPOB leader to life imprisonment for terrorism offences.

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