The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N50 billion lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government. Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled on Thursday that the suit lacked diligent prosecution, leading to its striking out.
Neither Kanu nor the Federal Government was represented by legal counsel during Thursday’s hearing.
Justice Ekwo pointed out that the case had been adjourned three times due to the absence of representation from Kanu’s side, while the Federal Government was consistently represented by its counsel in prior hearings.
Kanu had filed the suit in 2022, naming the Federal Government and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the defendants.
He alleged that his abduction from Kenya and subsequent extraordinary rendition to Nigeria violated his human rights.
Kanu sought a judicial review on whether the manner of his extradition was in line with Nigerian and international law, including provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The IPOB leader also sought several reliefs, including his release from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) and an injunction preventing his prosecution in an ongoing criminal case.
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However, the Federal Government contested the suit, arguing that it was an abuse of court process, citing the existence of a similar case filed in the Umuahia Division of the Federal High Court.
The government contended that the case had already been addressed in the earlier proceedings.
Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had previously informed the court of a change in legal representation, indicating that he would take over from Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, who originally filed the suit in April 2022.
Despite these developments, Justice Ekwo ruled that the lack of proper legal representation and the repeated adjournments left the court no choice but to strike out the suit for lack of prosecution.