By Taiye Agbaje

The Federal Government on Friday, re-arraigned Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on amended charge bordering on terrorism at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu, who was re-arraigned before Justice James Omotosho, pleaded not guilty to the seven counts.

The re-arraignment followed Kanu’s message, delivered by his new counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, shortly after the case was called.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the message was titled: “Apology By Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Delivered on His Behalf by Kanu G. Agabi, SAN, CON.”

Kanu had apologised to the court, Justice Binta Nyako, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who appeared for the Federal Government, and his own team of lawyers earlier led by Aloy Ejimakor, for all his attacks, which he said was done out of anger.

NAN reports that Kanu was earlier re-arraigned before Justice Nyako on amended 15 counts after he was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya.

On April 8, 2022, the trial court struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge. The remaining seven counts; 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15, were later quashed by the Court of Appeal on Oct. 13, 2025.

However, the FG filed an appeal at the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court judgment.

It also filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court’s judgment and the court granted the government’s request.

On Dec. 15, 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Government’s appeal challenging the verdict of the Appeal Court which dismissed the charges against Kanu.

The apex court held that Kanu must face trial at the Federal High Court on the remaining seven counts.

Before the counts were read to Kanu, Justice Omotosho made an order changing count eight to count six and count 15 to count seven.

Therefore, the IPOB leader pleaded not guilty to counts one, two, three, four, five, six and seven.

After the plea, Chief Awomolo informed the court of his readiness to conduct prosecution in line with the spirit and letters of the Supreme Court that ordered fresh trial.

He asked for a trial date to enable him to assemble his witnesses and also applied for accelerated hearing which was granted by the court.

Chief Agabi did not oppose the prosecution’s application.

Justice Omotosho, who ordered an accelerated hearing of the case, adjourned the matter until April 29, May 2 and May 6 for trial.

NAN observed that Kanu, who dressed in his usual sportswear, was cool and calm throughout the proceedings.

According to the charge, Kanu made a broadcast that was heard across Nigeria, in which he issued a threat that anyone who flouted a sit-at-home order in the south-east, should write his or her will.

The Federal Government alleged that as a result of the threat, banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, and petrol stations in the south-east have continued to shut down their businesses, with citizens and vehicular movements grounded.

It further alleged that Kanu’s broadcasts made on different dates between 2018 and 2021, incited members of the public to attack Nigerian security personnel and their family members, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.

It also alleged that Kanu directed members of IPOB “to manufacture bombs”.

The Federal Government also alleged that Kanu, between March and April 2015, “imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulisiuzor in Ihiala LGA of Anambra, a radio transmitter known as Tram 50L, concealed in a container of used household items which you declared as used household items.”

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 47(2)(a) of Criminal Code Act Cap, C45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Isaiah Eka

The Chief Judge (CJ) of Akwa Ibom, Justice Ekaette Obot, has rounded up a three-day visit to correctional centres and freed a total of 55 inmates in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 18 out of the 55 inmates were released on health grounds.

Four inmates regained freedom in Ikot Abasi custodial centre; two inmates were released in Eket centre, 11 in Ikot Ekpene centre, while 38 and one nursing mother were freed in Uyo custodial centre.

The CJ’s official visits to the custodial centres across the three senatorial districts began on Wednesday, March 12 and ended on Friday, March 14.

The chief judge observed that most of the offenders had minor offences and had overstayed in the custodial centres beyond the period they were supposed to stay, if they had been convicted.

She, however, released some on compassionate, health grounds and lack of diligence prosecution.

A typical case in Ikot-Ekpene custodual centre, was a case of one Friday Okoro, who had been in custody for over three years, without trial, for stealing his cousin’s coconuts.

The CJ, in discharging the inmates in all the centres, charged them to be of good behaviour and shun all acts that might bring them back to the custodial centre.

Obot expressed displeasure on the number of missing case files while the accused were still in custody with some staying more than the sentence of their crime if convicted.

She charged prosecutors on the need to ensure that no one was denied justice and they should not infringe on the fundamental rights of the accused.

The Controller of Correctional Centre, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Frank Okonkwo, thanked the chief judge for her consistent visit to the facilities and the goodwill extended to the custodial centres in the state.

Okonkwo highlighted some of the challenges confronting the centres to include dilapidated facilities and lack of logistics to convey inmates to court.

He appealed to Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom to extend support and assistance to the custodial centres in the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joe Idika

By Eguonor Ighure

The Chief Judge of Delta, Justice Theresa Diai, has granted freedom to a 24-year-old bike rider, an inmate of the Warri Correctional Centre, Tikor Kelvin.

Kelvin regained his freedom out of a total of 336 cases of awaiting trial inmates reviewed at the Warri Correctional Centre during the first quarter prison visit for 2025.

During the visit, Justice Diai said that a lot of the cases of the inmates were at advanced stages.

She expressed hope that on her next quarter visit, most of the matters would have been concluded.

Diai said that the released inmate was freed based on the legal advice from the Department of Public Prosecutions that he had no case to answer.

She commended the judges handling the cases and the Department of Public Prosecutions for their diligence in prosecution of the matters.

Diai urged chairmen of various branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in the state to prevail on their members to take the defence in cases of inmates serious and not abandon them.

Justice Diai and her team also visited the Sapele Correctional Centre, where a total of 138 warrants were reviewed. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola and Benson Iziama

By Ibironke Ariyo

The Director of Prisons, Legal Aids Council, Olise Chukwuma, has reiterated the council’s commitment to providing legal representation for inmates lacking representation, in a bid to ensure that justice is served.

Chukwuma made the commitment in Abuja at the second public hearing on alleged corruption and other violations of the law against Nigeria Correctional Service by the Independent Investigative Panel.

He said the council partners with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and non-governmental organisations like Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) to achieve the mandate.

This, he said, was geared towards promoting access to justice for all.

He expressed hope that the forthcoming Correctional Information Management System would enhance the council’s ability to retrieve details of inmates requiring legal representation.

“This will help in facilitating the provision of timely and effective legal aid,” he said.

Chukwuma noted that the council’s efforts would also help reduce overcrowding in prisons, address corruption within the correctional system, and ensure that the rights of inmates were protected.

He decried the issue of underage inmates and wrongful incarceration, stressing that the police must take responsibility for their mistakes, which often lead to the incarceration of innocent persons.

The director appealed for support from stakeholders, announcing that the Legal Aid Council would participate in the panel discussion to explore ways of improving access to justice for inmates.

Speaking, Mr Ibrahim Sesay, the Chief of Child Protection, UNICEF, Nigeria, commended the Minister of Interior for his accountability in reforming the correctional service.

Sesay outlined five key elements for consideration, including commitment to transparency and justice, solving community problems, accountability, protecting whistleblowers and institutional reforms.

“This is welcoming news and UNICEF is really looking forward to a very fair, transparent and accountable hearing,” he said.

The UNICEF chief emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law and fundamental freedoms, even for those accused of wrongdoing.

He called for the protection of whistleblowers and the implementation of institutional reforms to create a corrupt-free system.

Also, the President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, lauded the ministry for its transparency in probing allegations of corruption and human rights abuses in the NCoS.

Osigwe emphasised the need for the correctional service to prioritise rehabilitation and respect for human rights, adding that incarcerated persons were vulnerable members of society who deserved to be treated with dignity.

“The correctional service is not just about keeping people in prison, but also about rehabilitating them and preparing them for reintegration into society.

“This is because the persons who are incarcerated are more vulnerable than the society and the society has a duty to ensure that justice is done to them.

“There is a need to show compassion to them and also ensure that they are treated with the highest level of human dignity.

“And so, it is the measure of the accountability of the correctional system and the Ministry of Interior that when these allegations were made, as a show of openness, the Ministry took it seriously.

“We commend the ministry for taking this bold step, and we pledge our support and cooperation to ensure that the truth is uncovered and justice is served,” Osigwe said.

The NBA president expressed hope that the public hearings would uncover the truth and ensure justice for those affected, adding that the NBA would support and cooperate with the investigative body. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

By Edith Nwapi

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has restrained the enforcement of its judgment that upheld the Kano State Government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirate Council Law, pending the determination of a suit at the Supreme Court.

The News Agency of (NAN) reports that the Court of Appeal in Kano set aside the June 20 order by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, nullifying the steps/actions taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024.

This included appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The court held that the order nullifying the steps taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the 2024 Emirates Council Law was made by Justice Liman without jurisdiction.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Kano state government appealed to the supreme court and subsequently filed an injunction at the court of appeal.

It urged the court to stay execution of the judgment pending determination of the appeal at the Apex court.

Ruling on the injunction on Friday by a three-member panel of justices led by Justice Okon Abang in two suits marked CA/KN/27M/2025 and CA/KN/28M/2025, filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan

The appeal was brought against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

Alhaji Aminu Baba (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) through his application filed on Feb. 6, 2025, sought an order restraining the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while an appeal was pending at the Supreme Court.

The grounds for the application were that the applicant initially instituted the suit in Kano to protect his fundamental rights.

Others are that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit, and there was a need to restrain the respondents from executing the judgment.

In addition, the applicant argued that the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, which was passed by the state legislature and assented to by the governor, legally led to the dissolution of the newly created emirates and the reinstatement of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

In a unanimous ruling, the three-member panel of Justices led by Abang held that the application was meritorious and deserving of the court’s discretion in the interest of justice.

“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” he said.

He held that the mandatory injunction is “ordered that shall be maintain the status quo ante bellum as well as the sheriff of this court and trial court as was the position before the trial court as delivered on 13/6/2024 in the suit no. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024.”

Abang, in granting the injunction, emphasised that the applicant’s process was competent and had met all the necessary legal conditions required to obtain the relief sought.

He noted that a valid appeal was already pending before the Supreme Court, reinforcing the need to preserve the subject matter of the litigation.

In addition, the appeal court acknowledged the applicant’s legal right to protection, considering that he had served as Emir for five years before his removal.

“In my view, I hold that the balance of convenience lies in his favour. It is deserving to protect him pending the determination of the Supreme Court,” Abang ruled.

The court further restrained the respondents from enforcing the January 10 judgment that nullified the Kano State Government’s dissolution of the emirates. It also granted an order maintaining the status quo until the Supreme Court renders a final decision.

The applicant was directed to file an undertaking within 14 days in court to indemnify the respondents in damages in the event that the order not to have been made.

The appellate court’s Jan. 10 judgment had overturned an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Kano, which nullified the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024. This law had reversed the creation of five new emirates and reinstated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

The Court of Appeal, in setting aside the Federal High Court’s decision, ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over chieftaincy matters, which fall within the exclusive domain of the state high courts. (NAN) (www.nanews.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza