The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), declaring the case academic after his conviction for terrorism offences.
A three-judge panel struck out the appeal on Friday, ruling that Kanu could no longer benefit from the reliefs he sought following his life sentence.
Kanu had been convicted on November 20 by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on terrorism charges brought by the Department of State Services (DSS). In his appeal, he claimed violations of his rights to dignity, adequate healthcare, and freedom of religion while in DSS custody.
He also sought to overturn a July 3, 2022, judgment by retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which had dismissed his suit against the DSS Director-General and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Ugo stated that the appeal had become irrelevant after Kanu’s conviction and transfer to Sokoto Correctional Centre. The court noted that since Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed his client was now in a correctional facility, the request to transfer him to Kuje Correctional Centre could no longer be considered.
Justice Ugo further highlighted that Kanu had previously preferred prison custody over DSS detention, emphasizing that the court could not grant his requests after his conviction and remand in the correctional centre.
