The Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja has adjourned the Mr. Nnamdi Kanu versus President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government case till November 8.
Mr. Kanu had approached the court alleging breach of hi fundamental human rights by the Nigerian Government.
The presiding judge, Micah Wright, adjourned the case on Wednesday for definite hearing following an application by the defendant.
Mr. Wright, however, declined the request for cost by the applicant.
The Federal Government, who was absent, had written to the court to adjourn the case because it had conflicting case in another court.
But, Counsel to the plaintiff, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, opposed the application for adjournment and requested for a cost of one million naira.
Mr. Kanu, a Director of Radio Biafra and leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, sued the Federal Government for alleged illegal detention.
Joined in the suit were the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS).
Mr. Kanu, in the suit, is asking for a compensation of $800 million for alleged violation of his human rights and an order directing his unconditional release and that of his personal belongings.
He also urged the court to direct the defendants to respect, protect and promote his rights to life, liberty, freedom of movement, assembly and expression.
The plaintiff prayed the court to declare that his arrest and detention since October 14, 2015 by the defendant was in flagrant disobedience to several orders of courts of competent jurisdiction.
He also prayed the court to declare that his continued detention was a violation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Charter of 1970.
Observers saw how, on Tuesday, the elevated court ordered the release of former National Security Adviser [NSA], Colonel Sambo Mohammad Dasuki [retd] with immediate effect.
The court also imposed a N15 million fine on the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Elombah.com, however, gathered that the President Buhari-led administration is highly reluctant and unlikely to comply with the order.
The court, maintained that the search on Dasuki’s house without a search warrant was unlawful.
It also ruled that the former NSA’s continued detention without trial is also unlawful since he has met the bail condition granted by the three courts before which he was arraigned.
For this the government was ordered to pay a sum of 15 million naira as damages to Dasuki.
On the claims by the federal government that there were plans to destabilise the government, the court held that it was an arbitrary claim which is not a reasonable ground to detain him indefinitely since November 2015.
© Copyright 2016 www.elombah.com; Send eyewitness accounts/reports/articles to publisher@elombah.com; follow us on twitter handle @Elombah; like our Facebook page: “Elombah.com”
Share your thoughts in the comment box below:
