NEWS
Court to hear Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition case October 4
The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia has fixed October 4, 2022, to hear Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition suit which has been before the court since March this year.
A statement by Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB, said the Suit is sui generis (of a special class) and “it is primarily aimed at redressing the infamous unlawful expulsion or extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, which is a clear violation of his fundamental rights under Article 12(4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, as well as Chapter IV of the Nigerian Constitution.”
The statement read: “In addition to the rendition, I am asking the Court to redress the myriad violations that came with the rendition, such as the torture, the unlawful detention and the denial of the right to fair hearing which is required by law before anybody can be expelled from one country to the other. I am also seeking to halt his prosecution and restore him to the status quo before he was rendition on 19th June, 2021.
“You will recall that that on 19th January, 2022, the High Court of Abia State decided that portion of violation of Kanu’s fundamental rights that occurred in 2017. Even as I had made claims that bordered on rendition, the Court declined jurisdiction on grounds that rendition, being related to extradition, lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. This is what informed my decision to initiate the suit before the Federal High Court.
“To be sure, the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu triggered myriad legal questions that cut across multiple jurisdictions in Nigeria and even triggered the international legal order, to boot. In other words, the rendition has expanded the matter of Kanu far beyond the realms of the Abuja trial and opened up new legal frontiers that must be ventilated to the hilt before other courts and tribunals within and without Nigeria.
“Thus, this very case before the Federal High Court, Umuahia is one of such that is aimed at seeking a definitive judicial pronouncement on the constitutionality of the extraordinary rendition. The ones in the United Kingdom, Kenya, African Union and the United Nations are in addition.
“I would like to cease this opportunity to express my profound appreciation to the highly competent and hardworking team of lawyers that I am leading in the prosecution of this complex suit. Special mention must be made of Barristers Patrick Agazie, Ifeyinwa Nworgu, Tochukwu Arugbuonye, Franklin Amandi, Ohaeto Uwazie and Mandela Umegborogu.
“For ease of reference and avoidance of any doubt, the following are the specific reliefs that I requested in the Suit:
“1, A DECLARATION that the arrest of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents’ agents without due process of law is arbitrary, and the Respondents’ enforced disappearance of the Applicant for eight (8) days and their refusal to produce the Applicant before a Kenyan Court for the purpose of Applicant’s extradition is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against arbitrary arrest, to his personal liberty and to fair hearing as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.
“2, A DECLARATION that the detention of the Applicant in a non-official secret facility in Kenya and the torture of the Applicant in Kenya by the Respondents’ agents is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amount to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right against unlawful detention, torture and to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter).
“3, A DECLARATION that, pursuant to Article 12(4) of the Charter, the expulsion (or extraordinary rendition) of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria by the Respondents without a decision taken in accordance with the law of Kenya is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to fair hearing and not to be expelled from a State Party to the Charter except by virtue of a decision taken in accordance with the law, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.
“4, A DECLARATION that any criminal prosecution of the Applicant the purpose of which the Respondents unlawfully expelled the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and amounts to infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right to fair hearing, as enshrined and guaranteed under the pertinent provisions of CFRN and the Charter.
“5, AN ORDER OF INJUNCTION restraining and prohibiting the Respondents from taking any further step in any criminal prosecution of the Applicant enabled by the said unlawful expulsion of the Applicant from Kenya to Nigeria.
“6, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the the Respondents to forthwith restitute or otherwise restore the Applicant to his liberty, same being his state of being as of 19th June, 2021; and to thereupon repatriate the Applicant to his country of lawful domicile (to wit: the United Kingdom) to await the outcome of any formal request the Respondents may file before the competent authorities in Britain for the lawful extradition of the Applicant to Nigeria.
“7, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to issue an official Letter of Apology to the Applicant for the infringement of his fundamental rights; and publication of said Letter of Apology in three (3) national dailies.
“8, AN ORDER mandating and compelling the Respondents to pay the sum of N25,000,000,000.00 (Twenty-Five Billion Naira) to the Applicant, being monetary damages claimed by the Applicant against the Respondents jointly and severally for the physical, mental, emotional, psychological, property and other damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of the infringements of Applicant’s fundamental rights by the Respondents.
“It is our humble expectation that, sooner than later, justice shall prevail for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore has rejected the bail conditions set by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) following his invitation for questioning over a viral video he posted, which highlighted alleged extortion by police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.
In a post on his X account on Monday, Sowore stated, “I have rejected a bail condition asking me to present a level 17 Permanent Secretary. Instead, I have offered to remain in police custody pending when the joke is over with.”
This came after Sowore was informed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police at the Federal Intelligence Department (FID) that bail would be granted pending the completion of the investigation into the matter.
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The police have charged Sowore with multiple offenses, including resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful orders, acts intended to cause harm, cyberstalking, and refusal to assist public servants.
This follows his recording of a video in which he confronted officers allegedly setting up roadblocks for the purpose of soliciting bribes.
Sowore’s decision to reject the bail conditions stemmed from his refusal to accept terms that he deemed unreasonable and compromising.
“I have also advised the DIG that in accepting ‘bail,’ I will not agree to conditions that compromise my innocence, dignity, and integrity. If such unreasonable conditions are imposed, I will choose to remain in detention until I am charged to court,” he added.
Sowore further criticized the investigation, calling it an exercise in impunity and asserting that no crime had been defined in relation to his case.
Earlier, Sowore revealed that he had completed his “interview” with the police at the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, where he was questioned about the viral video. “
The police relied on a rehashed set of information sourced mostly from the internet,” Sowore explained.
When he asked them to identify the location of the alleged crime, they provided a vague response, mentioning only the airport road. He chose not to provide a written statement, noting that in the absence of a defined crime, there was no need for such a process.
Sowore also reported that the police took a break during the session, later informing him that they were awaiting further instructions from higher authorities.
He expressed concern that the police were planning to take him to Lagos for a “kangaroo trial.” “It seems their plan is to detain me and take me to Lagos for a kangaroo trial. However, I am prepared to face any consequences,” he said.
In a direct challenge to the leadership of the Nigerian police, Sowore reiterated his stance against the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, whom he accused of extending his tenure illegally.
“I made it clear to the team that the matter revolves around my publicly stated view that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who is due for retirement and clearly tired, had his tenure extended illegally,” Sowore stated.
Despite the mounting pressure, Sowore remained resolute, asserting that his fight for justice would continue.
“We are entering a promising year, and our fight for justice will persist,” he concluded, with the hashtag #RevolutionNow, further solidifying his commitment to advocating for human rights and challenging the impunity within Nigeria’s police force.
The Sokoto State Government, led by Governor Ahmed Aliyu, has announced the implementation of the revised N70,000 national minimum wage for all state civil servants, local government employees, and the Local Government Education Authority.
This new policy will take effect on Monday, signaling a significant step towards improving workers’ welfare in the state.
Governor Aliyu, in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Abubakar Bawa, emphasized that the new minimum wage reflects his administration’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of Sokoto’s workforce.
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He also encouraged civil servants to match the gesture with greater dedication, professionalism, and hard work.
“With the commencement of the payment of this new national minimum wage, we expect renewed commitment, hard work, punctuality, and, above all, seriousness from our civil servants,” the governor remarked.
Aliyu also reassured workers that his administration is committed to maintaining timely salary payments, with salaries to be paid between the 19th and 22nd of each month.
This consistent schedule is designed to further solidify Sokoto State’s reputation as a worker-friendly administration.
In addition to the new wage policy, the governor has placed a high priority on clearing the backlog of unpaid gratuities owed to retired workers.
A total of N500 million will be allocated monthly to offset these outstanding payments, with an additional N300 million designated for retirees who left service in 2023 and beyond.
Governor Aliyu assured the public that by the end of his tenure, no civil servant would be left owing gratuities.
“This strategic approach ensures that by the end of my administration, no civil servant will be owed gratuities,” Aliyu stated, highlighting the stark contrast with previous administrations where salary delays often stretched beyond 50 days, leaving workers facing financial uncertainty.
Muhuyi Rimingado, the Chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), has accused a suspect under his agency’s investigation of orchestrating his recent arrest.
Rimingado, who was detained last week, described the incident as a direct consequence of his work in tackling corruption, asserting that “corruption is fighting back.”
Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Monday, Rimingado explained that the arrest was part of a larger attempt to undermine his efforts.
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“When you fight corruption, corruption will fight back. Anti-corruption fight (is) fair but corruption fight is dirty,” he said.
Rimingado revealed that three federal agencies had been mobilized against him, alleging that “there are lots of activities going around targeted against my person.”
He connected the arrest to an investigation into a massive fraud case involving the former Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited (KASCO).
According to Rimingado, his commission uncovered that N4 billion of Kano State Government funds had been siphoned through various entities.
As part of the investigation, his commission seized assets linked to the crime in accordance with legal procedures. After charging the accused to court, Rimingado said the suspect sought to unlawfully seize the evidence.
“He came up with a series of tactics to snatch away the exhibit of the crime, and that is not allowed in law,” he explained.
To prevent tampering, Rimingado’s commission moved the seized property to a safer location.
He believes that this action prompted the police to arrest him, stating, “When they cannot wait for the court processes and they know they cannot succeed in that case, they now activate the police to arrest me.”
The police officers who detained him accused him of abuse of power, mischief, and trespass, charges Rimingado vehemently denied. “My commission is empowered by law to prosecute suspects of corrupt practices,” he stated.
As of now, the police have not issued any comment on the ongoing developments.
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