By Dirisu Yakubu
The Supreme Court has released the Certified True Copy of its December 15, 2023 judgment which okayed the terrorism charges filed by the Federal Government against the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
This was revealed on Monday by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, on X.
The lawyer wrote: “Today (Monday), the Supreme Court released the CTC of its judgment in ‘Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Nnamdi Kanu’. The court also promised to transmit the case file to the Federal High Court by tomorrow (Tuesday). Sooner than later, we shall lock horns at the Federal High Court to #FreeMNK.”
The Supreme Court, in the December 15, 2023 judgment, reversed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which earlier dismissed the terrorism charges against the IPOB leader.
Supreme Court ordered that Kanu should be tried before the Federal High Court.
Earlier on Monday, the Peace In South-East Project, an initiative of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, joined the agitated call for the release of the CTC of the apex court judgment.
The organisation noted that the 14-day window given by law within which to sign the CTC had since elapsed without any news on the release of the document by the apex court.
PISE-P, in a statement by its media team, on Monday called on the appropriate authorities to act on the plea as a matter of urgency, arguing that it was time the Supreme Court signed the CTC in compliance with the laws of the land.
“This is a part of the rules of natural justice, for both parties to be heard. The government has through the judgment spoken. The most legal way for the citizen to respond is through having access to what the court has said and responding to it accordingly through other options available to him by our laws. To delay the signing is to delay justice and justice delayed is justice denied.
“We urge the Supreme Court and the registrars of the court to make the judgment available for those in charge to sign them,” the group stated.
The group also advised Kanu’s family to, “in the midst of the calls, be patient and avoid using volatile words that may further complicate the issues while it seeks political ways of pushing for the release of the IPOB leader through non-litigious means.”
The group added that “The advocacy for peace in the South-East project needs the support of all and sundry to achieve the same and this includes the understanding of the family knowing full well that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is very fundamental to the rebuilding of peace in the South-East.”
Meanwhile, the PISE-P said it has set up a team to facilitate the signing of the CTC as soon as possible.
