Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist group, has been discharged by the Court of Appeal.
In 2015, the Federal Government arrested Kanu and charged him for treasonable felony over his call for the breakup of Nigeria and the creation of “Biafraland”, a nation comprising of states in Nigeria’s southern region.
The separatist leader was later granted on medical grounds in July 2017.
Kanu fled the country after a military invasion near his home in Abia state.
Kanu, who was later seen in Israel allegedly performing some religious rites, began to encourage his followers in Nigeria to do everything possible to make Biafra to reality.
This gave birth to the formation of the Biafran army and other activities considered to be against Nigerian law.
IPOB was later proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Federal Government in September 2017.
In 2021, Kanu was rearrested in Kenya, where he allegedly showed up to receive funds for the actualization of his ambition.
He was arraigned on an amended 15-count charge bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
Eight of the charges were dismissed by the court on April 8.
Counsel to Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, had in an appeal, prayed the court to throw out the remaining seven charges and release the IPOB leader.
At the court hearing on Thursday, Ozekhome argued that Kanu was abducted from Kenya by the Federal Government without the authorization of the country where he was brought in from.
A three-man panel which delivered the judgement on Thursday, October 13, noted that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try Kanu in view of the way he was brought into the country.
The Court also said the Federal Government had violated the Terrorism Act adding that the charges preferred Kanu did not date, place, and time of the alleged offences.
It is unclear if the Federal Government will be approaching the Supreme Court for a better interpretation of the matter.
