The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed an appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, in which he challenged alleged violations of his fundamental rights by the Federal Government.
The case listed the Director General of the Department of State Services and the Attorney General of the Federation as respondents.
A three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that the appeal had become aqn academic exercise, as Kanu had already been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, the court noted that Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed his client is already serving his sentence at the Sokoto Correction Centre.
The court further held that, given the circumstances, a request in the appeal seeking Kanu’s transfer from DSS custody to Kuje prison could not be granted.
It also stated that since Kanu had previously expressed a preference for prison custody, “his conviction and current remand at the Sokoto correctional facility satisfied that desire.”
As a result, the appellate court struck out the case for lack of merit.
Kanu had originally challenged the July 3 ruling of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the trial court, which had dismissed his suit seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights.
It will be recalled that on November 20, the high court convicted Kanu on a seven-count terrorism charge brought by the federal government.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the trial, held that the prosecution proved the elements of the charge beyond a reasonable doubt and sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment.
