By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N50 billion lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, against the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who gave the ruling on Thursday, said the case was struck out because it was not properly followed up.
When the case came up in court, no lawyer showed up for either Kanu or the Federal Government.
Justice Ekwo pointed out that during the last hearing, Kanu had no legal representative, while the government was represented
He also noted that the case had already been delayed three times for the same reason.
Since there was no one in court to continue the matter, the judge decided to strike it out.
Kanu had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation over what he called a violation of his rights.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, was filed after Kanu alleged that he was kidnapped in Kenya and illegally brought back to Nigeria.
He asked the court to decide whether the way and manner in which the plaintiff was abducted in Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria is consistent with extant laws.
He specifically mentioned, the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Article/Part 5 (a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa.
Kanu also wanted the court to rule on “whether by the operation of Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff can be competently/legally tried for offences stated in counts 1 to 14 of the 15-count amended charge.”
He claimed those charges were not the same as the ones he was extradited or brought back for.
