Jubilation in South East as Appeal Court discharged and acquitted Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday
By Emma Ogbuehi
There was massive jubilation in the South East as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory on Thursday upheld the appeal of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Court also discharged and acquitted Kanu
Confirming the development on his Facebook page, Kanu’s lawyer and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, wrote; “Appeal allowed, Oyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU, discharged and acquitted. We have won!,”.
Kanu had in his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted.
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Kanu was first arraigned on December 23, 2015 and was later granted bail on April 25, 2017.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, had on Tuesday, September 13, reserved its judgement on an appeal Nnamdi Kanu filed to quash the terrorism and treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
The IPOB leader, who is currently facing trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, approached the appellate court to query the legal competence of the charge pending against him.
He specifically prayed the appellate court to review the April 8 ruling of the trial court which struck out only eight out of the 15-count charge.
Insisting that the charge FG entered against him had no basis in law, Kanu, in his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted.
Kanu equally urged the appellate court to order his release on bail, pending the determination of his appeal.
Reports from the South East states of Imo, Abia, Ebony, Enugu and Anambra, indicated that immediately the news of Kanu filtered into the air, many youths erupted into wild ululation, with some chorusing, “Thank God, Onye Ndu (the leader) is freed at last.
TheNiche gathered that in Abakiliki, Ebonyi state capital, youths trooped out in groups to celebrate the news. In Owerri, sympathisers of the IPOB leader gathered in clusters to seek confirmation of the news. An enthusiastic caller from Onitsha, Ike Chidiume, who could not conceal his feeling, broke down in tears of joy on hearing the news.
For Carol Obi, Enugu, resident, it was a moment of gratitude that, “at last the era of Monday-sit-at-home, will be a thing of the past”.