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Why Nnamdi Kanu May Be Freed in Court – Mike Ozekhome SAN

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2022

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Last week, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court Abuja, struck out eight of the 15 terrorism and felony charges preferred by the Federal Government against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice Nyako freed Nnamdi Kanu on the eight counts while ruling on a preliminary objection filed by the IPOB leader.

“In this instant preliminary objection application, I have read the counts and come to the conclusion that counts six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12 and 14 have not disclosed any offence against the defendant.

“‘Counts one, two, three, four, five, eight and 15 show some allegations, which the defendant has to answer.

“The court shall proceed to try the defendant on those counts,” Justice Nyako said.

Consequently, the lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN, has expressed optimism that the end of the trial is within sight as evidence has proved that the IPOB leader has no case to answer.

In his response to members of the press, he disclosed as much as follows:

“So, today, eight of the 15 counts charge were dismissed; leaving seven counts that are wobbling; counts that wobble and fumble. They will not stand and cannot hold water. You cannot build something upon nothing and expect it to stand. It is not possible. If eight counts went, the remaining seven cannot stand. When we look at those seven counts whether it holds any water in law. We will be able to refer to the case of FRN and Saraki where some counts were crushed by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and the Court of Appeal tried to crushed but the Supreme Court said this is not possible because the other ones related to it should also be crushed. That was how Saraki got free. So, when you test the remaining count charge; let the persecution get that notice.

“So, we proceeded to move our bill application that the defendant, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, deserve to be granted bail. The case of the prosecution has always been that Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail, and that is why he was forcibly renditioned to Nigeria. A rendition which the court did not agree with us. We shall test it although it is contrary to the provision of African Charter on Human and People’s Right; contrary to the Human Right Declaration of 1948; contrary to the International Covenant on Social and Political Rights; contrary to the instrument dealing with indigenous people’s rights. When you have a treaty with a country; such as with Nigeria and Kenya, and person voluntarily entered Kenya and you renditioned him forcefully through torture, inhuman and degrading treatment on the 27th of June 2021, all the cases base on my research shows that such person across the world cannot be tried.

“Nnamdi Kanu was enjoying his bail. He was within Nigeria, he never left abroad. Then, on the 14th of September 2017, then military went in armoured truck as though they were going to war in Sambisa, and brutally invaded the home of Nnamdi Kanu and his father, His Royal Majesty, Kanu who is now late. They murdered 28 innocent Nigerians that were there without cause. They called it Operation Python Dance. We’ve not seen such in Sambisa, Chibok, and Dapchi. Somehow, Nnamdi Kanu escaped. Are you saying that person who want to be killed and ran away jumped the bail? The answer is no. It was late Chief MKO Abiola that made the statement that a bird doesn’t tell another bird that stone is coming, it simply flies away. No man stands in front of a moving train, he will be crushed. Now, you are saying that Nnamdi Kanu who barely escaped with his life should wait in Nigeria. If he had been killed, he will not be standing trial. So, he did not jump bail.

“The forced him into exile, and he went as a citizen of Britain to Kenya where he was forcefully renditioned back to Nigeria. So, this is a case deserving of bail, and we implored my lord to grant him bail even if he was to subject it to certain conditions. Even under the administration of criminal justice act, bail is allowed. It is discretionary; even in capital offense like murder or treason. Mind you, Nnamdi Kanu is not standing trial for treason, he is standing trial for offenses related to treasonable felony. Not treason itself. He is not standing trial for any capital punishment. But the administration of criminal justice act still says even in capital punishment, an accused person can be granted bail subject to the discretion of the court. Section 36 of the Constitution has given everyone the access to fair hearing, and this also means a fair trial includes all the circumstances surrounding a case. Our criminal justice system is accusatorial and not inquisitorial. This means it is the innocence of a person that is presumed and not his guilt. It is different from the French model which is inquisitorial where your guilt in presumed and you are told to prove your innocence. That is why Section 36 says you have to prove the offense of a person beyond reasonable doubt. Any doubt, no matter how small, it would be resolved in favour of the accused person.

“With this, Nnamdi Kanu is subject to bail subject to court discretion and imposition of certain conditions because we have proved that he did not jump bail. He almost got killed and that is why he ran away. We believe that this is a proper case for the court to grant bail so that Nnamdi Kanu will be alive in order to start trial. In law, we say come and stand trial. This means you have to be well, hail, and hearty to stand trial. It didn’t say come and sit down, lay down, prostrate, or be in the grave, or be in the hospital trial. Can we say there is a fair trial when in our bail application Nnamdi Kanu is complaining of solitary confinement? That is not allowed. He is only brought out maybe once in a week to receive vitamin D (the sun). And when other inmates greet him, they are subject to solitary confinement as punishment for exchanging pleasantry with him. He said his health is deteriorating fast, and need his doctor for advice. But they don’t allow such. The lawyers are not allowed.

“19 times. Between February 22nd and now, the lawyers and family members are taking cloths to him and the DSS refused. I personally led the lawyers on three occasions. Can you say that’s a fair trial? They don’t allow my case files, wristwatch, biro, my reading glass, and handkerchief, only my ring was allowed when I visit him. Can you say that’s a fair trial, when a lawyer cannot confer with his client freely? And the little space we were given to confer were bugged with gadgets. Can you say that’s a fair trial?

“So, when I am discussing a strategy on a case with my client, then the opposition with all its federal power should be listening to my conversation. Is that a fair trial? So, what kind of criminal justice system are we operating that the person who unlawfully abducted the accused from Kenya on 27th of June 2021 under torture. The same state (Federal Republic of Nigeria) is the one investigating and prosecuting him, and getting the witnesses that will testify against him. The same state is also the one having custody of the accused. So, head or tail, they are winning. Where is the justice of the matter? Where is the fair trial? Where is the leveled plain ground?

“In the past, I begged some cause like this for bail. I won’t mention their names. He was still undergoing trial and he dropped dead. The next time the case came up in court, I asked the prosecutor that where is the subject matter of trial. He said he’s dead. I said what’s the effect of that, he said that means the case is terminated. I said why don’t we try his corpse in the grave. Of course, that was the end of the matter but that my client was allow to prove his innocence because the prosecution could prove the matter under a government that just name and shame them of crime that we can’t prove. What we called media trial. It is outrageous. Then, you carry the shame and allegations into the grave with you. That is not fair. The people have family, association, and community people. It’s not fair, and that’s why I told the court to grant us bail. We had a wonderful outing, and God is on the throne and will forever be on the throne.”

Nnamdi Kanu was arrested and deported to Nigeria from Kenya against all known laws on June 21, 2021, and has since remained in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) in what his handlers have described as deplorable condition.

Headline

Gunmen Abduct Ex-Power Minister Adelabu’s Sister, Her Two Sons in Ibadan

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2026

Eric

Suspected gunmen have abducted the sister of a former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The family of former minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed the abduction, disclosing that Mrs. Olaide John-Paul and her 12-year-old twin sons were kidnapped by the gunmen on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.

According to a statement issued by Adelabu’s media aide, Femi Awogboro, the victims were kidnapped at about 7:30am while Mrs. John-Paul was taking her children to school.

Mrs. John-Paul, the youngest of five children of Mrs. Olufunmilayo Aduke Adegoke Adelabu, reportedly retired voluntarily from her career at First Bank Pension Custodian in 2025 before relocating to Ibadan with her children.

She was said to be making arrangements to join her husband, who had earlier relocated to the US.

The family expressed deep concern over the development but stated that security agencies had already commenced efforts to rescue the victims and apprehend those responsible.

“We are pleased to confirm that security operatives have swung into action and preliminary investigations have commenced in earnest,” the statement partly read.

While appealing for calm, the family urged members of the public to refrain from spreading unverified information that could undermine ongoing rescue operations.

“We are deeply distressed by this unfortunate incident, but remain hopeful that the victims will be rescued safely. We appeal to the public to remain calm, avoid speculation and support ongoing efforts with prayers,” the statement added.

The family also called on anyone with useful information that could aid the rescue operation to promptly share such intelligence with security agencies through the appropriate channels.

It assured that it would continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement authorities and provide updates as investigations and rescue efforts progress.

Headline

Adeboye Proposes 90 Days Ultimatum for Security Chiefs to Eradicate Terrorism or Resign

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2026

Eric

The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has called on the Federal government to issue a 90-day ultimatum to security chiefs to end terrorism in Nigeria or step aside.

Adeboye made the appeal in a video shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, expressing deep concern over the country’s deteriorating security situation.

He emphasized the need for urgent and decisive action, stressing that security chiefs must be held accountable for tangible results in the fight against terrorism.

According to him, while citizens can only advise the Commander-in-Chief, it is within the government’s power to set clear expectations and timelines for security leaders.

“If I were to make a suggestion, I would say the government should act swiftly and direct the service chiefs to eradicate terrorists within 90 days or resign,” he said.

The cleric also urged authorities to go beyond targeting terrorists alone, insisting that their sponsors must equally be identified and dealt with, regardless of their social or political influence.

“When issuing directives, it should be made clear that both terrorists and their sponsors must be eliminated, no matter how powerful they are,” he added.

Adeboye recalled that a former Nigerian president had once issued a similar three-month directive to security chiefs to end the Boko Haram insurgency but failed to enforce the order after the deadline expired.

Reflecting on his interaction with the late president, Adeboye noted that although initial efforts were made, the lack of follow-through undermined the directive’s effectiveness.

He maintained that his current recommendation is informed by that experience, urging the government to ensure strict enforcement if such a timeline is adopted.

His comments come amid renewed concerns over persistent terrorist attacks, banditry, and kidnappings across the country, with increasing public pressure on authorities to take stronger action against insecurity.

Headline

TAS Pushes Sustainability Training Drive to Bridge Africa’s ESG Implementation Gap

Published

3 days ago

June 3, 2026

Admin

As global conversations around sustainability, governance and responsible development continue to intensify, attention is increasingly turning to Africa’s need for practical capacity building to translate environmental, social and governance (ESG) awareness into measurable action.

This was the central focus of Train Africans on Sustainability (TAS), an initiative founded by Dr. Orlando Odejide, which is working to equip Africans with the knowledge, skills and tools required to actively participate in the global sustainability agenda.

According to sustainability professionals involved in the programme, TAS was created in response to a growing gap across the continent between awareness and implementation of sustainability principles. While understanding of ESG frameworks and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has expanded in recent years, many individuals and organisations still face challenges in applying these concepts due to limited access to structured, practical training.

The initiative is designed to close that gap by shifting participants from awareness to action through hands-on, context-driven sustainability education. At the core of the programme is Odejide’s vision of training 50,000 Africans, aimed at building a new generation of sustainability-focused leaders and professionals capable of driving long-term change across the continent.

TAS operates as a capacity-building platform focused on sustainability, ESG principles and SDG implementation. It targets a wide audience, including young professionals, corporate organisations, public sector institutions and individuals seeking to strengthen their understanding of sustainability and its real-world application.

A defining feature of the programme is its emphasis on practical implementation. Participants are exposed to how sustainability functions within organisations, how ESG frameworks can be integrated into business operations and how sustainability performance can be measured and reported. The training is also tailored to African contexts, ensuring that global sustainability concepts are adapted to local economic, environmental and institutional realities.

The importance of such education has become increasingly evident as Africa faces mounting environmental, social and economic pressures alongside rapid population growth and development demands. Decisions made today, stakeholders note, will have long-term implications for future generations.

Sustainability education, therefore, is seen as a critical tool for balancing economic growth with environmental protection and social inclusion. It helps translate broad global frameworks into practical approaches for decision-making, innovation and long-term planning. Industry practitioners associated with TAS say one of the key barriers to sustainability adoption is not lack of interest, but uncertainty about implementation, a gap the programme aims to address through structured learning and practical guidance.

Since its launch, TAS has recorded steady participation, with 548 registered participants and 212 individuals certified as 2030 Agenda for SDGs and ESG (IWA48) Champions. Beyond certification, many participants are applying their learning within their workplaces and communities.

Some graduates are now leading sustainability-focused discussions within organisations, while others are aligning projects and initiatives with the SDGs. This shift from passive awareness to active engagement is viewed as a key indicator of the programme’s growing influence. Reports of participant-led initiatives and awareness campaigns are increasingly visible across professional platforms, particularly LinkedIn.

Looking ahead, TAS is focused on expanding its reach across more African countries, strengthening partnerships and improving the quality and depth of its training programmes. The long-term ambition is to establish the initiative as a leading sustainability capacity-building platform across the continent through collaboration with private sector organisations, government institutions and development partners.

The programme also provides multiple avenues for participation. Individuals can enrol to build sustainability competencies and join a growing professional network focused on sustainable development, while organisations can partner to train employees, sponsor access programmes or collaborate on ESG-related projects.

Through this collaborative approach, TAS aims to bring together stakeholders across sectors in support of a shared goal: advancing sustainable development across Africa. By prioritising education, capacity building and practical implementation, the initiative is positioning itself as a driver of sustainability transformation on the continent.