A High Court in Abia State has ordered the federal government to pay the sum of N1 billion to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for violating his rights.
Justice Benson Anya, delivered the judgment on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, after declaring the invasion of his home as unconstitutional.
The judge also ordered the federal government to issue a public apology to Kanu in three national dailies.
He also advised the federal government to adopt a political resolution in dealing with issues involving Kanu.
However, the judge struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu’s legal team, including an order against his continued detention by the DSS.
In September 2017, it was gathered that the Nigerian Army invaded his residence in his hometown in Afaraukwu.
The judge while delivering the judgment on Wednesday, the Nigerian soldiers violated his rights when they invaded his home without a warrant, leading to the death of several persons while Kanu escaped unharmed.
In a separate case, Kanu has been in DSS custody after being abducted in Kenya in late June 2020 and forcibly transferred to Abuja.
His case was heard on Wednesday morning at the Nigerian capital, during which it was adjourned again until February 16, 2022.
It was gathered that Kanu filed the suit through his counsel, Aloy Ejimafor against Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), and the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly violating his fundamental human rights.
Aside from the AGF and the DSS Director-General, other respondents include the federal government of Nigeria (first), Chief of Army Staff (third), Inspector-General of Police (fifth), and three others.
Amongst other reliefs sought in the suit marked HIH/FR14/2021, Kanu asked the court to compel the respondents to pay him N5 billion in damages as monetary compensation for the “physical, mental, emotional, psychological and other damages” suffered as a result of the alleged infringement on his fundamental rights.
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