Appeal Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s Suit, Declares Case ‘Academic’ After Terrorism Conviction

|By Chinwendu Nwani

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out an appeal filed by convicted IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that the case lacked merit and had become purely academic following his November 20 terrorism conviction by the Federal High Court.

Delivering judgment on Friday, a three-member appellate panel ruled that Kanu’s complaints—alleging violations of his rights to human dignity, quality health care and freedom of religion while in DSS custody—no longer held water since he is now a convicted inmate serving a life sentence.

In the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo said the court could no longer consider Kanu’s request to be transferred from DSS custody to Kuje Prison because his lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed in open court that Kanu is already being held in Sokoto Prison.

Justice Ugo added that Kanu had previously expressed a preference for prison custody over DSS detention, and since he is now lawfully remanded in a correctional facility after conviction, the court cannot grant any of the relocation orders he sought.

The ruling resolves Kanu’s appeal against an earlier judgment delivered on July 3 by retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who had dismissed his fundamental rights suit for lack of proof.

The Director General of the DSS, the DSS, and the Attorney-General of the Federation were listed as respondents in the appeal.