The Supreme Court is being accused of perverting the course of justice against Nnamdi Kanu by the Indigenous People of Biafra, or IPOB.
The Supreme Court was charged by IPOB with using Kanu as a pawn in an adjournment.
The Supreme Court’s decision to postpone the earlier date for the hearing of Kanu’s appeal, according to IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful, has left the separatist group dissatisfied and perplexed.
The Supreme Court’s judgement, according to Powerful, was the worst example of a mockery of justice and a savage assault on the rule of law.
According to a statement from Powerful, “We the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by the great and indomitable liberator Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu KANU, condemn the continuous adjournment of our Leader’s case by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in their efforts to maintain our Leader in the DSS solitary confinement in Abuja.
“The afterthought and inadequate explanation is that the Supreme Court’s annual vacation has coincided with the hearing date of September 14, 2023, which was originally planned for that date. This is the worst kind of violently destroying the rule of law and travestying justice, to put it mildly.
If we may inquire, did not the Supreme Court Justices who heard the appeal on May 11, 2023, adjourn it to September 14, 2023, in open court?
“It is also our understanding that the 14th of September 2023 adjournment was not granted automatically; the adjournment date was carefully considered in light of the Federal Government’s deliberate scheme to obstruct the proceedings of that day by applying for an extension of time to file their papers even though they were clearly past the deadline, and the Appeal was subsequently adjourned to the 14th of September, 2023, for a definitive hearing.
“How could they have adjourned to the 14th day of September, 2023, without being guided by their diary, which contains the full schedule of activities and holidays of the Supreme Court for the entire year? If the Apex Court’s current intention is not a clear rape of democracy and subversion of the course of justice.
“The Supreme Court’s own regulations governing criminal trials that are subject to accelerated hearing are violated by the cancellation of this date on the flimsy pretext that the scheduled date conflicts with the Apex Court’s yearly vacation. It should be noted that the current developments serve as further proof that the Supreme Court of Nigeria is breaking its own guidelines by repeatedly deferring the case of our Leader.
IPOB pleaded with the foreign groups to persuade the Supreme Court to hear Kanu’s appeal “so that this case will be swiftly decided.”
The organisation questioned how the Nigerian government would explain why Kanu had not been released despite being cleared and discharged by the Appeal Court.
“Our Leader should be immediately released in accordance with the Order of the Penultimate Court made on the 13th day of October 2022,” he stated. “If the Federal Government of Nigeria is no longer interested in prosecuting their Appeal.”
