The Senior Counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has expressed fears that the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), might die in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the lawyer representing Nnamdi Kanu said there was a need for his clients to have access to quality medical attention, lamenting that his health has deteriorated badly.
Ozekhome who spoke at the Supreme Court, told the court that though Kanu was earlier scheduled to undergo surgery, the DSS, on FG’s instruction, refused to release him to go for the medical operation.
Reacting to Ozekhome’s plea, the apex court responded that God will keep Kanu alive and that he will not die in detention.
The court said even if it proceeds to hear the appeal, there is no space within its calendar to write and deliver the verdict within the 90-day deadline.
The Supreme Court added that the court will hear all the motions in the case on the resumption of hearing on September 14.
Kanu had approached the court to appeal the verdict of the Appeal Court stopping his release from the custody of the DSS.
The Court of Appeal had earlier granted a stay of execution on its verdict which discharged Kanu of terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, the Appeal Court granted the application filed by the Federal Government pending the hearing and determination of the appeal before the Supreme Court
A five-member panel of the apex court headed by Justice Inyang Okoro adjourned the matter on a day that Kanu, through his team of lawyers led by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, drew attention to an application he filed to be transferred from custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, to Kuje prison.
However, the government lawyer, Tijani Gazzali, SAN, asked for a further adjournment of the case to enable him to file his reply to Kanu’s applications.
While adjourning the matter, the apex court said it has so many pending election cases, stressing that it may not be able to prepare its verdict on Kanu’s case within 90 days as required by the law, should it proceed to hear the two applications as prayed.
