Just-In: Appeal Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu's Fundamental Rights Suit as "Academic"

Just-In: Appeal Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s Fundamental Rights Suit as “Academic”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out an appeal filed by the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that it has been rendered “academic” and lacks merit following his terrorism conviction and life sentence.

The three-member panel delivered the judgment on Friday, dismissing Kanu’s suit which had alleged violations of his fundamental rights to human dignity, quality healthcare, and freedom of religion while in detention.

The court held that these claims could no longer be sustained after his conviction by the Federal High Court on November 20 and his subsequent transfer to a correctional facility.

In the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo noted that since Kanu’s lawyer confirmed his client was now held in Sokoto prison, a type of facility he had previously requested, the core reliefs sought in the appeal had been overtaken by events.

The judge emphasized that the court could not grant a request that had, in effect, already been met.

The appeal was against the July 3 judgment of the Federal High Court, which had initially dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights suit.

With this latest ruling, the legal pathway for challenging his detention conditions has been effectively closed following his conviction.