An Abia State High Court has declared the invasion of Nnamdi Kanu’s residence in 2017 as unlawful and unconstitutional.
The presiding judge, Justice Benson Anya, made the ruling today at the hearing of the fundamental right suit filed by his lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, on Kanu’s behalf. Justice Anya, who declared the invasion of Kanu’s residence as illegal, also awarded N1 billion damages against the FG.
Mr Ejimakor confirmed the development to Nairametrics this afternoon via phone message. He said, “I am pleased with the Judgment, especially as it diminished the vested notion that Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail in 2017. The directive by the Judge to federal government to pursue the path of political solution with Kanu is also in good order. Going forward, I see the judgment having significant impact on the Abuja case.
“I have no doubt that the federal government will implement the judgment. My confidence comes from the recent pronouncements from the President that he will respect whatever the judiciary decides in the matter of Nnamdi Kanu.”
What you should know
In September 2017, officers of the Nigerian army had invaded Kanu’s residence.
In a suit marked HIH/FR14/2021 Mr Ejimakor had filed the fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Abia State High Court on the basis that Mr Kanu had suffered physical, mental, and psychological damages from the federal government.
Mr Ejimakor had asked the court to declare the invasion of Kanu’s residence as unlawful and an infringement on his rights granted by the constitution.
He demanded the sum of N5 billion as damages inflicted on his client.
Justice Anya held that the invasion of Kanu’s residence in 2017 was a violation of his rights.
While the federal government is the first respondent in the suit, other respondents include the minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Army Chief, Faruk Yahaya; Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba; the State Security Service (SSS), the Director-General of the SSS and the Director of SSS for Abia state.
