Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s N1bn suit against Nigerian govt

The Abuja Federal High Court on Monday dismissed the one billion naira suit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Nigerian Government and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice James Omotoso held that Kanu failed to show evidence that his conversations with his lawyers were bugged by the DSS.

The judge said Kanu’s lawyers also failed to show that the DSS stopped them from taking notes during their conversations with him.

Omotoso further noted that there was no evidence to show that Kanu’s lawyers were denied a fair hearing as claimed in the suit.

Consequently, the judge dismissed the suit for lacking merit.

In the suit filed by his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1633/2023, the IPOB leader sought one billion naira for the enforcement of his fundamental rights while in detention.

In the originating motion dated and filed December 4, 2023, the applicant sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the DSS, and its Director-General as the 1st to 4th respondents, respectively.

The suit was filed pursuant to Order II, Rules 1 & 2 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009, among others.

In the motion, the detained IPOB leader prayed for a declaration that the respondents’ act of forcibly seizing and photocopying confidential legal documents pertaining to the preparation of his defense, which were brought to him at the respondents’ detention facility by his lawyers, amounted to a denial of his right to be defended by legal practitioners of his own choice.

He also sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of refusing or preventing his counsel from taking notes during professional discussions/consultations with him at DSS detention amounted to a denial of his right to be given adequate facilities for the preparation of his defense by legal practitioners of his own choice.