The incarcerated leader of proscribed Igbo separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed two separate lawsuits challenging alleged violations of his constitutional rights, the right to a fair hearing, fair trial, and speedy trial.
In the lawsuits filed on his behalf by his legal team led by his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu made several demands from the Nigerian government which include transferring his case to the South-East to align with constitutional provisions and relevant statutes in handling his case.
He also demanded a speedy trial, a formal apology from the Nigerian government for the alleged violation of his fundamental rights to be published in three widely circulated national newspapers, as well as N100 billion in damages for alleged physical, mental, and emotional trauma caused by his prolonged detention and legal proceedings.
Ejimakor who disclosed this in a statement on Friday, said in the first suit filed under CV/875/25, Kanu is seeking an unconditional release from detention and the ongoing trial in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.
“In the first Suit, Number: CV/875/25 filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, we requested for the enforcement of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s constitutional right to fair hearing and to be tried within a reasonable time; and in the alternative, to release him unconditionally,” Ejimakor said.
“In the second Suit, Number: M/3224/2025 which was also brought before the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, we are seeking for a Mandamus to compel the authorities to follow the law in the conduct of his trial, including the transfer of his case to Southeast where it should have been instituted in the first place.
“We wish to make it abundantly clear that these Suits were primarily necessitated by the several unconstitutional and unlawful actions that have pervaded the conduct of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case since the recusal of Honorable Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako on 24th September 2024.
“The said unconstitutional and unlawful actions include the refusal to reassign the case to another Judge, the backward reassignment of the case to the same Judge who recused herself from the case, the refusal to consider transfer of the case to Southeast and most importantly, the failure of the authorities to bring the case to a proper trial within a “reasonable time” as the Constitution demands.
“To be clear, these actions by the authorities constitute a grave miscarriage of justice that have altogether become highly injurious to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal interests, including particularly the grave injustice of keeping him in detention for almost four years without any prospect of a fair trial.
“As a human being imbued with certain inalienable rights, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot fold his hands whilst these injustices persist.
“The injustices are
1. Failure to reassign the case to another judge. Reversing the recusal decision, returning the case to the same judge.
2. Refusal to consider moving the case to the Southeast. Delays in bringing the case to trial, keeping Kanu in detention for nearly four years without resolution.”
Source: Ripples
