A fundamental rights case filed by Nnamdi Kanu against the Nigerian government has been struck out by the Federal High Court in Abuja due to inactivity and the absence of legal representation from all sides.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday, April 10, ended Kanu’s N50 billion legal challenge over alleged rights violations stemming from his 2021 arrest and transfer from Kenya.
The judge emphasized that Kanu’s legal team had failed to diligently prosecute the matter, despite several postponements.
In the suit identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, Kanu accused the Nigerian government of breaching his fundamental rights by subjecting him to extraordinary rendition, contrary to both local laws and international treaties such as Article 12(4) of the African Charter and Section 15 of Nigeria’s Extradition Act.
He also contended that the charges in his ongoing criminal trial differed from any for which he might have been legally extradited.
Kanu requested immediate release from DSS detention, a cessation of the current criminal proceedings, and a N100 million compensation for legal costs.
The Federal Government countered the lawsuit with a preliminary objection, asserting that Kanu had already filed a similar case in Umuahia, making the Abuja court unfit to hear a duplicate matter.
They described the Abuja case as an abuse of court process.
Though Kanu’s counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, signalled intent to take over the case from Mike Ozekhome (SAN), there was no significant progress. With Thursday’s ruling, the legal effort to secure relief through this particular suit has been officially terminated.