The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday reserved judgment in
an application by the Federal Government seeking a stay of execution of its
judgment that ordered the release of the Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Haruna Tsanami, who presided over the hearing of the
application, announced that a date for delivery of judgment would be
communicated to the parties when ready.
The Federal Government, while arguing the application, told
the Court of Appeal that the Biafra nation agitator, Nnamdi Kanu is a huge
threat to national security and must be kept in detention to have relative
peace.
Besides, government asserted that Kanu is a flight risk and
would escape out of the country if the judgment which ordered his release was
not stayed.
In a motion for stay of execution of the October 13
delivered in favour of Kanu, the Federal Government insisted that the Biafra
nation agitator would throw the nation’s security into jeopardy and prejudice
the public and private economic activities.
The Federal Government counsel, Mr David Kaswe, while
arguing the motion informed the Appellate Court that Kanu had earlier
demonstrated to be flight risk when he jumped out of the country when granted
bail in the terrorism charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kaswe insisted that it is in the interest of justice and the
need to have relative peace in the South East and the whole Nigeria that Kanu
be made to remain in detention pending the resolution of an appeal already
filed at the Supreme Court.
“My Lords, our concerns, the concern of the Federal
Government is the threat the release of Kanu poses to the security of this
country and its political, social and economic activities. We will not be able
to lay hands upon him if he is allowed out of detention and finds his way out
of the country”.
He therefore prayed the court to stay the execution of the
judgment to enable Kanu remain in custody pending when Supreme Court would
finally determine the pending appeal.
However, lead counsel to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN
dismissed the claim that Kanu jumped bail in his trial at the Federal High
Court.
Ozekhome claimed that the Military unjustly invaded Kanu’s
ancestral home and that it took God’s grace for his client to escape death.
The senior lawyer informed the court that the Federal
Government was in contempt of court by not obeying the October 13 judgment and
as such, has no moral and legal rights to make the request from the same court.
Contrary to the Federal Government claim, Ozekhome said that
it is only the release of his client that will ensure peace and tranquility not
only in the South East but the entire country.
” My Lord, the action of the Federal Government in respect
of Nnamdi Kanu is an insult, a slap in the face to this court. It is also an
invitation to anarchy and I humbly urge this Court to dismiss the application
for lacking in merit.” he argued.
Justice Tsanami after taking arguments from parties announced that judgment has been reserved and that lawyers would be communicated when it is ready.
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