IPOB: ECOWAS court fixes Nov 8 to hear   Kanu’s case

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice, has fixed November 8,2016 to commence hearing in the suit filed before it by the embattled self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Presiding judge of the court, Justice Micah Wright, fixed the date after a letter from the Federal government was presented before it explaining its inability to be in court for the trial.

According to the letter which was addressed to the court, the FG explained that it was before another court for a different matter and prayed the court to adjourn the trial.

Opposing the application for adjournment, Counsel to the plaintiff, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, urged the court to discountainance the request for adjournment.

He said that the request was a deliberate attempt by the FG to frustrate the trial and to also continued to keep Kanu in detention.

He further requested for a cost of one million naira as damages.

Justice Wright after listening to the submissions adjourned the case to Wednesday to commence definite hearing but however, declined the request for cost by the applicant.

Kanu had taken the Federal Government of Nigeria to the ECOWAS Court over his continued unlawful detention.

In a Suit No ECW/CCJ/APP/06/16 filed at the Court in Abuja on Thursday March 3, 2016, Kanu’s counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor is claiming on behalf of his client that his continued detention violates Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, and 20 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights; Articles 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 22 and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Articles 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21 and 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Article 22 Paragraph 1, of the Covenant of the League of Nations; as well as Resolution 2625 (Xxv) of the United Nations Charter of 1970 and Rulings of courts of competent jurisdiction and orders made directing the defendants to release which were flagrantly disobeyed.

He further attached photographs and video clips showing the ‘genocidal massacre’ and unlawful killing of his supporters and members during a civil protest in Aba Abia State.

Joined in the Suit are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and Director General of State Security Services (SSS).