Nnamdi Kanu offers N1 million challenge to Nigerian law students over legal precedent

DDM News

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has issued a challenge to Nigerian law students.

Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that he is offering a reward of one million naira (N1,000,000) to any student who can cite a legal precedent where a judge ordered a stay of release for a person acquitted by the court.

This announcement was made by Kanu’s legal team, sparking widespread discussions about the legal and political implications of his case.

The announcement by Kanu’s legal team

Kanu’s legal team includes prominent lawyers such as Aloy Ejimakor, Jude Ugwuanyi, Nnaemeka Ejiofor, and Mandela Umegborogu.

During a media briefing in Abuja, they revealed the details of the challenge.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Ejiofor explained that the IPOB leader wants to draw attention to what he describes as a grave injustice in his case.

The background of Nnamdi Kanu’s legal battle

Nnamdi Kanu has been at the center of legal and political controversies in Nigeria.

As the leader of IPOB, he advocates for the secession of southeastern Nigeria to form the independent state of Biafra.

His arrest, extradition, and detention have drawn attention locally and internationally.

In October 2022, the Court of Appeal in Abuja quashed all charges against Kanu.

The court ruled that his rendition from Kenya to Nigeria violated international and local extradition laws.

However, despite this ruling, Justice Haruna Tsanami of the Court of Appeal granted an order for a stay of Kanu’s release.

This decision has kept Kanu in detention at the Department of State Security (DSS) and has been criticized by legal experts.

The challenge to Nigerian law students

Nnamdi Kanu is challenging law students to find any precedent where an acquitted person was denied their freedom through a stay of execution order.

His legal team insists that no such precedent exists.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu pledges to give any law student in any Nigerian university the sum of N1,000,000 if such a student can find a precedent on stay of execution in criminal proceedings where an acquitted person was restrained from enjoying their freedom,” Ejiofor announced.

The legal team described the order in Kanu’s case as unprecedented and illegal.

They argued that Kanu’s continued detention is not based on any valid court order but is politically motivated.

Criticism of the judiciary

The legal team emphasized that the decision to quash the charges against Kanu should have led to his immediate release.

However, the stay of execution order has raised questions about the judiciary’s independence and possible political influence.

“It is an illegality that will haunt Nigeria’s judiciary for generations.

The stay of execution order was granted not on the basis of law but because Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is Igbo and must suffer, notwithstanding what the law says,” Ejiofor added.

Violations of international and local laws

The legal team also argued that the ruling violates the Extradition Acts of Kenya and Nigeria.

They maintained that Kanu’s continued detention at the DSS is a grave injustice and a violation of his fundamental rights.

Calls for justice

Kanu’s legal team has vowed to continue fighting for his release.

They argue that the stay of execution order sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the rule of law.

“This decision is unprecedented and represents a significant departure from established legal norms.

“It is essential for the judiciary to uphold the principles of justice and fairness, irrespective of political pressures,” Ejiofor concluded.

Nnamdi Kanu’s case remains central to discussions about justice and the rule of law in Nigeria.

His N1 million challenge to law students is not just a call for legal expertise but also a protest against what he and his supporters see as the judiciary’s politicization.

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