By Baron Ike
The ECOWAS court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 7 reportedly dismissed the application filed by the federal government asking that the suit filed by NnamdiKanu, the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) be quashed.
Kanu has been in detention since 2015. The federal government has ignored all court ruling in his favour for his release.
The MuhammaduBuhari government is trying Kanu for alleged treason.
The ruling of the ECOWAS court reportedly caused jubilation among members of IPOB and those sympathetic to Kanu’s plight.
Kanu’s suit seeks the court to grant him an unconditional release from detention as well as damages to the tune of $800 million.
According to Channels Television reports, the federal government asked the court to dismiss the case because it is a subject matter before the Federal High Court and the appeal court.
The federal government said as a result, Kanu’s application constitutes an abuse of court process.
The presiding judge, Micah Wright-Williams, dismissed the application of the government for lacking in merit. The court assumed jurisdiction to hear cases of infringement of human rights.
Last week, some prominent Igbo leaders held a news conference and called on the federal government to respect the orders of the court as they affect Kanu.