JUST IN: The Appeal court releases Nnamdi Kanu and criticizes the authority of the lower court

In light of Kanu extradition to Nigeria, the appellate court declared that the High Court lacked the authority to try him. The imprisoned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu appeal was accepted by the Appeal Court in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. On October 13, 2022, the court issued a three person panel decision in which the separatist leader was likewise released and found not guilty. Kanu is being tried by the Federal Government in Abuja for 15 counts of offenses, including treasonable felony and terrorism, that he is said to have committed while agitating for Biafra. However, the Federal High Court lacks the authority to trial Kanu because of his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria and abduction, violating the Organisation of African Union (OAU) convention and protocol on extradition. The court ruled that the 15 count charge slammed against the IPOB leader failed to disclose the place, date, time, and nature of the alleged offenses before he was unlawfully deported to Nigeria. The court further held that the Federal Government failed to disclose where Kanu was arrested despite the grave allegations against him. Kanu trials The IPOB leader got into the bad book of the Federal Government following his persistent calls for the breakaway of Southeastern Nigeria to form the Republic of Biafra. Kanu was operating from outside the shores of the country using the online platform, Radio Biafra, to rally the people of the region for his cause, but he was arrested by the authorities upon arriving in Nigeria sometime in October 2015. The Federal Government later leveled an 11 count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms, and improper importation of goods, among others, against him but the court granted him bail in April 2017 on medical grounds. However, Kanu went to his native town in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State where he continued his Biafra crusade, before eventually fleeing the country in September 2017 after an invasion of his home by the military. He was re arrested and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021 having been sighted in Israel and other places where he had asked his supporters to employ violence in achieving secession. Kanu has denied any wrongdoing.