IPOB: ECOWAS Court strikes out FG objection against Kanu's suit

The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has thrown out a preliminary objection filed by the Federal Government, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear a case of breach of fundamental human rights filed by the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The court, in its ruling delivered by the presiding Judge, Justice Micah Wright, held that it had jurisdiction to entertain the application and that the case was admissible.

The court has fixed April 27 for the hearing of the application.

Kanu had sued the Federal government over alleged illegal detention.

The defendants in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and the Director-General of Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu, in the suit, is seeking 800 million dollars compensation for violation of his human rights and an order directing his unconditional release and that of his personal belongings. He is also praying the

court to direct the defendants to respect, protect and promote his rights to life, liberty and freedom of movement, assembly and expression.

The applicant is also praying the court to declare that his arrest and detention since October 14, 2015 by the defendants, is in flagrant disobedience to several orders of courts of competent jurisdiction.