The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N50 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered the ruling, citing lack of diligent prosecution as the reason for striking out the case. Neither Kanu’s legal representatives nor counsel for the Federal Government were present in court when the matter was called.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, was filed by Kanu in April 2022 and claimed that his rights were grossly violated when he was allegedly abducted in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria without due legal process.
Kanu sought several reliefs, including a declaration that his rendition violated international and domestic laws, an order for his release from the custody of the State Security Services (SSS), a restraining order against the Federal Government from continuing his prosecution, an award of N100 million as the cost of the legal action, and N50 billion as damages for the alleged rights violation.
The Federal Government, in a preliminary objection filed on June 27, 2022, urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing Kanu’s case as “an abuse of court process.” The government noted that Kanu had earlier filed a similar suit before the Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State.
The court struck out the case due to lack of diligent prosecution, with Justice Ekwo stating that the matter had suffered three adjournments without representation from the plaintiff.
