. Nnamdi Kanu Offers N1 Million to Law Students Over Court Ruling on Acquitted Individuals
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has offered a one million naira reward to any Nigerian law student who can provide legal authority where a judge granted a stay of release for a person acquitted by the court. This offer was made public through Kanu’s legal team, which includes his lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, as well as other prominent lawyers, Jude Ugwuanyi, Nnaemeka Ejiofor, and Mandela Umegborogu.
Speaking on behalf of Kanu’s legal team in Abuja, Ejiofor stated, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu pledges to give any law student in any Nigerian university the sum of One Million Naira if such student finds any precedent on stay of execution in criminal proceedings where an acquitted person is by such order restrained from enjoying his freedom.”
Kanu’s legal team argued that such an action is not only unprecedented but also illegal, adding that the continued detention of Kanu despite his acquittal reflects systemic bias against him as a person of Igbo descent. They emphasized that this legal misstep could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s judicial system.
Kanu’s Legal Team Decries ‘Illegal’ Detention
In addition to the financial challenge, Kanu’s legal team reiterated that his ongoing detention at the Department of State Security Service (DSS) was without legal grounds. They emphasized that the Court of Appeal had quashed all charges against Kanu, ruling that the trial lacked jurisdiction and violated both the Kenyan and Nigerian Extradition Acts. Despite this, the Court of Appeal’s Justice Tsamani unlawfully issued a stay order that prevented Kanu’s release, an order the legal team described as “illegal” and unprecedented in any jurisdiction.
“By the decision of the Court of Appeal, all the charges for which Onyendu (Kanu) is being tried were quashed for want of jurisdiction and in violation of the Extradition Acts of both Kenya and Nigeria,” said Ejiofor. He pointed out that Kanu had been remanded based on the erroneous claim that he had jumped bail, yet the ruling on his case had already cleared him of all charges.
Kanu’s legal team insists that this continued detention, following his acquittal, is a clear violation of his rights and an example of judicial overreach aimed at punishing him based on his identity and political beliefs.
The Controversy Surrounding Kanu’s Detention
At the heart of this controversy is the contentious court order granting the stay of execution on Kanu’s release. His legal team maintains that no legal precedent supports the detention of an acquitted person simply by the issuance of a stay order, stating that such an action is a glaring legal anomaly. The legal team also described the stay of execution as a political move rather than a legal necessity, reinforcing the claim that Kanu’s detention is more about his identity and political affiliations than any legitimate legal concerns.
Despite the outcry, Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention, and his case continues to generate significant legal and political debate in Nigeria. His offer to law students is seen as both a challenge to the legal system and a call for a broader discussion on the rights of individuals who are acquitted but remain detained due to unlawful court orders.
