The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a N50 billion lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), against the Federal Government. The decision was made by Justice Inyang Ekwo due to a lack of diligent prosecution, as Kanu and his lawyers failed to attend court on multiple occasions.
Kanu's suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, alleged that his abduction from Kenya and rendition to Nigeria violated his rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. He sought several reliefs, including his release from the Department of State Services (DSS) and an end to his prosecution on treason charges.
The Federal Government had argued that the suit was an abuse of court process, citing a similar case filed in Umuahia.
With no legal representation present for Kanu during the hearing, Justice Ekwo ruled that the case had been abandoned and should be struck out