On Friday in Abuja, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo dismissed a lawsuit filed by the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court over the court’s practise of secret trials for terrorism-related offences.
The lawsuit, which names Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho as the only defendant, was dismissed after the agitator for the Biafra nation abruptly withdrew it.
After the court adopted a Practice Direction ordering the trial of terrorism-related allegations to be conducted in secret, Kanu called the Chief Judge before the court.
His complaint was that his fundamental right to a fair trial had been violated by the secret trial policy implemented soon after the federal government filed 15-count treasonable felony accusations against him.
When the hearing was set to begin at Friday’s proceedings, Kanu indicated through his attorney, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, that he was no longer interested in pursuing the lawsuit.
Ejiofor then requested that the case be dismissed in accordance with Kanu’s wishes.
Speaking with reporters about the matter, the attorney said that the action was abandoned when it became clear that his client was not the focus of the secret trial of terrorist charges policy that had been implemented during Kanu’s trial.
Details to follow.
