Kanu: Appeal Court halts execution of release order

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the application by the federal government seeking to stay execution of the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

A three-member panel of justices presided by Justice Haruna Tsamani yesterday held that it would be proper to await the appeal before the Supreme Court.

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The appellate court directed that the stay of execution be forwarded to the apex court within seven days for expeditious hearing. 

The federal government had filed an appeal before the Supreme Court and a stay of execution following the judgment of the appellate court on Thursday, October 13, which struck out the remaining seven-count charges preferred against Kanu, citing a violation of international law on his extraordinary rendition from Kenya, and ordered his discharge from terrorism and treasonable felony charges.

However, the federal government through its counsel, David Kaswe, while arguing the application, informed the Court of Appeal that Kanu had earlier demonstrated to be a flight risk when he jumped bail granted to him in 2017.

He further contended it was in the interest of peace in the South-East and the country to hold Kanu pending the determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court.

However, the lead counsel to Kanu, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), asked the appellate court to dismiss the submissions, maintaining that his client miraculously escaped with his life in September 2017 after soldiers of the Operation Python Dance attacked his residence at Afaraukwu-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, killing 28 persons.