Igbo groups in US urge Justice Omotosho to enforce Supreme Court decisions, release Nnamdi Kanu
The American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), the Rising Sun (TRS) and the Ambassadors for Self Determination (ASD), all located in the Continental United States (CONUS), have urged the new Judge handling Nnamdi Kanu’s case, Justice James Omotosho to ensure the enforcement of the Supreme Court’s decisions on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader.
Kanu will appear before Justice Omotosho on Friday, following the latter’s take-over of the case after Justice Binta Nyako’s recusal.
The Supreme Court had in December 2023, among others, held that it was wrong to have revoked the bail granted Kanu for reasons of the law.
The three Diaspora Igbo groups had in a statement signed by Dr. Sylvester Onyia, Chiefs Dede Maxwell and Evans Nwankwo, said by the Supreme Court’s held view, the bail granted Kanu should be restored by virtue of section 287(4) of the Nigerian Constitution.
Section 287(4) of the 1999 Constitution as amended states inter alia, “The decisions of the Supreme Court shall be enforced in any part of the Federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court.”
Insisting on Kanu’s innocence, the groups lamented that despite the IPOB leader being extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria, the court orders in his favour have not been obeyed.
“We are aware of Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria despite the fact he did not commit any offence.
“We are also aware of his unlawful detention in the Nigerian DSS dungeon and equally aware of various court judgments in his favour that have not been implemented.
“In July 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Council (through a landmark opinion issued by its working group), stated that the appropriate remedy would be for the Government of Nigeria to release Kanu immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations in accordance with international law.”
While insisting that a rapist cannot try his victim, neither would illegality be piled atop illegality, moreover when the whole world is watching, the groups averred that since courts of competent jurisdiction have acquitted Kanu, prosecuting him further makes no meaning.
They urged President Bola Tinubu to do the needful and free Kanu in the interest of peace in the South East.
