ABUJA – Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally requested that his case be referred to the Court of Appeal, seeking to challenge the jurisdiction and procedures of his ongoing trial.
The application was made during Thursday’s court proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Kanu’s legal team argued that fundamental legal issues in the case require appellate court intervention before the trial can proceed substantively.
Kanu’s lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, presented the motion before Justice Binta Nyako, contending that several constitutional matters and questions of jurisdictional competence need resolution by a higher court.
“We have filed a motion urging this honorable court to refer this case to the Court of Appeal for determination of critical constitutional issues that go to the root of this trial,” Ejimakor stated during the hearing.
The IPOB leader is facing terrorism-related charges brought by the Federal Government, with the case experiencing multiple adjournments and procedural delays since his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in 2021.
The defense team cited recent legal precedents and constitutional interpretations that they believe support their request for appellate referral, though specific details of the constitutional questions raised were not immediately disclosed in open court.
The prosecution, led by the Federal Ministry of Justice, is expected to file a response to the application ahead of the next hearing date.
Justice Nyako has adjourned the case to await the prosecution’s response and consider the referral request.
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Disclaimer for CDA News
This article reports on ongoing legal proceedings involving Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court. The information is based on court proceedings and legal filings. CDA News maintains neutrality in reporting legal matters and will provide updates as the case develops through the judicial system.
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