Kanu Appeal: IPOB raises questions over delay

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NNEWI — The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has raised concerns over the delay in the hearing of the appeal filed by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, challenging his conviction by the Federal High Court.

IPOB, in a statement yesterday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it was concerned about the status of the appeal and the processes filed by the parties.

The statement, titled “Why Nigeria will never list the Appeal of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the bill of indictment against every court that made the fraud possible,” focused on what the group described as unresolved legal questions arising from Kanu’s trial and subsequent conviction.

According to IPOB, one of the issues concerns the applicable law under which Kanu was convicted, following the repeal of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 and the enactment of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The group argued that the transitional provisions of the 2022 Act were relevant to the continuation of proceedings that commenced under the earlier legislation.

It also referred to the Supreme Court judgment in State v. Egigia (2024) LPELR-62009(SC), which it said addressed the legal effect of a repealed statute.

IPOB said these and other legal questions were among the issues it expected the Court of Appeal to consider in determining Kanu’s appeal.

The group further raised concerns about the processes filed by the Federal Government, claiming that it had not filed its brief within the prescribed period.

It said the development had contributed to uncertainty over the next step in the appeal.

IPOB also referred to the earlier proceedings at the Court of Appeal, including the court’s decision concerning Kanu’s discharge and subsequent proceedings relating to his continued detention.

The group said it was seeking clarification on the legal basis and procedural steps surrounding those decisions.

According to IPOB, Kanu is representing himself in the appeal and has prepared a 115-page handwritten appellant’s brief containing eight issues for determination.

The group said the issues raised in the brief relate principally to the applicable law, the constitutional provisions governing criminal proceedings and the effect of the 2022 terrorism legislation on the case.

It urged the Court of Appeal to list the matter and determine the issues raised by Kanu in accordance with the law.

IPOB also called on the international community to pay attention to the progress of the appeal and urged relevant Nigerian authorities to provide clarity on the status of the case.

The group maintained that the legal questions raised in the appeal should be resolved through the judicial process.

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