High Court in Enugu Orders Federal Government and South-East Governors to Pay N8 Billion to Nnamdi Kanu
In a groundbreaking legal decision, a High Court in Enugu, Nigeria, has ruled that the federal government led by Bola Tinubu and the South-East Governors must pay Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the sum of eight billion naira (N8,000,000,000.00) as monetary damages. This judgment came as a result of a suit brought before the court by the legal team of IPOB, led by Aloy Ejimakor.
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The court also mandated that the respondents issue official letters of apology to Nnamdi Kanu for infringing upon his fundamental rights, and these letters must be published in three national dailies.
Justice A. O Onovo, who presided over the case, delivered this landmark judgment. The court declared the proscription and designation of IPOB as a terrorist organization by the federal government and the South-East Governors as unconstitutional. This decision follows a legal battle challenging the 2017 proscription of IPOB as a terrorist organization.
In his ruling, Justice A. O Onovo declared that the “practical application of the Terrorism Prevention Act and the executive or administrative action of the Respondents,” referring to the South-East Governors Forum and the federal government, “which directly led to the proscription of IPOB and its listing as a terrorist group” was unconstitutional.
The court further stated that “IPOB, being comprised of citizens of Nigeria of the Igbo and other Eastern Nigerian ethnic groups, professing the political opinion of self-determination, and the consequent arrest, detention, and prosecution of the Applicant, MAZI NNAMDI KANU, as a member/leader of said IPOB is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, and amounts to an infringement of the Applicant’s fundamental right not to be subjected to any disabilities or restrictions based on his ethnicity.
This historic judgment signifies a significant moment for the rights of self-determination and the protection of fundamental rights in Nigeria. It reinforces the principle that self-determination is not a crime and should not be used as a basis for arrests, detentions, or prosecutions.
In response to the ruling, Aloy Ejimakor, the lead counsel for IPOB, expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, characterizing it as a “landmark victory.” He emphasized that the court’s decision affirmed that self-determination is not a crime and reiterated the importance of upholding constitutional protections against discrimination based on ethnicity.
The court’s order for both apology letters and monetary damages reflects a significant legal precedent in recognizing and safeguarding the rights and freedoms of individuals and groups in Nigeria. It underscores the importance of constitutional rights and the necessity of accountability in protecting these rights.
