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From Godwin Tsa Abuja
The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has struck out an appeal filed by convicted leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the Director General of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) over alleged violation of his human rights.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, the three-member panel held that the case has become academic following his recent conviction and sentencing for terrorism offences.
Besides, the appellate court held that Kanu’s claims of rights violations, including alleged breaches of his right to human dignity, access to quality healthcare and freedom of religion could no longer stand since he is now a convicted prisoner serving a life sentence.
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Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, who delivered the lead judgment, explained that the court could not grant the reliefs sought by Kanu, particularly his request to be transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to Kuje prison.
The judge noted that Kanu’s own counsel, Maxwell Opara, confirmed at the start of proceedings that his client was currently being held at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
According to Justice Ugo, the developments rendered the appeal moot. He added that because Kanu had earlier expressed a preference for prison custody over DSS detention, the court could not revisit those issues after he had already been convicted and transferred to a correctional facility.
The judgment relates to Kanu’s challenge of July 3 ruling by now-retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which dismissed his fundamental rights enforcement suit for lack of proof.
