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Nnamdi Kanu’s Appeal Denied: Court Rules in Favor of Police and DSS on Unlawful Arrest and Detention Case
On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja denied the appeal filed by Felix Okonkwo, an attorney representing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is jailed, about his illegitimate arrest and imprisonment by the State Security Services (SSS) and the Police.
The appeal was denied by Justice Okon Abang due to a lack of substance and merit.
Judge Abang issued his decision on the appeal on Monday, ruling that the appellant had not proven that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja High Court’s ruling in the case represented a miscarriage of justice.
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Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike, and Okafor Ugochukwu, the appellants, had brought the Nigeria Police Force and the SSS before the high court in order to have their fundamental human rights upheld.
They particularly charged that the two security services had violated their fundamental rights by unlawfully detaining and arresting them on September 27, 2021. During their unlawful incarceration, they claimed to have been subjected to abuse, harassment, and intimidation by the police.
In his ruling on March 24, 2022, Justice Samaila Bature held the police accountable for the wrongful arrest and imprisonment of the appellants. The court also fined the police N2 million, which was to be given to the appellants.
However, because the appellants, who were plaintiffs at the time, had not disclosed a cause of action against the SSS, Justice Bature did not issue any orders against the SSS.
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The three plaintiffs, dissatisfied with the high court’s conclusions and rulings, petitioned the Court of Appeal, pleading for a ruling that SSS was also responsible for their apprehension and confinement.
They requested that the appellate court double the N2 million punishment imposed on the police as restitution for their illegal arrest and imprisonment, arguing that the amount was insignificant and absurdly inadequate.
According to the video footage submitted as exhibit by the appellants at the trial court, Justice Abang’s ruling indicated that the SSS agents were not present at the residence of Ifeanyi Ejiofor in Anambra State when they were arrested.
The appellants’ contention that the N2 million in compensatory damages was egregiously inadequate was rejected by the appellate court’s justice.
Justice Abang asserts that neither a plaintiff nor an appellant may impose their will on a judge’s decision to provide compensatory damages.
In this instance, Justice Abang concurred with Justice Bature that the trial court gave careful consideration to the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the appellants’ unlawful arrest and detention before determining the appropriate amount.
Furthermore, according to Justice Abang, the appellants failed to bring up unrelated details in the high court’s ruling and failed to reveal their social standing, their monthly or annual income, or the losses they suffered while in custody.
“In my opinion, and going by the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the N2 million compensation to the appellants was properly awarded.
“I cannot fault the award because the appellant did not give any good reason for them to have been awarded a much higher amount.
“In the final analysis, the appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed, the decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed. There is an order as to cost”, Justice Abang held.
Justices Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole and Abba Bello Mohammed endorsed the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Abang.
The country’s bank compliance officers have received a call from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asking them to stop disclosing to their clients about the EFCC’s investigative operations.
This statement was made by the commission’s executive chairman, Ola Olukoyede, in a meeting with bank compliance officers in the capital of Oyo State, Ibadan.
Olukoyede stated that the commission is aware that certain compliance officers are providing information to customers. He made this statement through ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim, Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC’s Ibadan Zonal Command.
He bemoaned the unhealthy backing that Nigerian banks give scammers.
The head of the commission emphasized that the commission is facing many difficulties and worries as a result of this act.
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He claims that the EFCC is aware that compliance officers inform their clients about “letters of investigation activities” that the EFCC has sent to banks.
He maintained that these kinds of actions typically compromise financial crime investigations and postpone the filing of court proceedings pertaining to corruption.
He bemoaned the unhealthy backing that Nigerian banks give to fraudsters, emphasizing that the Commission is facing significant difficulties and worries as a result.
In order to speed the investigation process and bring the case to a logical conclusion, the head of the EFCC further advised the agency to always reply to letters received from the Commission with certified true copies, including instruments of transactions of beneficiaries or sources.
Speaking further, Olukoyede insisted that illicit transactions and naira-denominated trading with Point-of-sale (POS) operators had to end.
“What we notice and see around lately is that Nigerians can only withdraw a small amount of their money with the banks in Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) but POS operators evidently go around with huge amounts of money gotten from the banks.
“This is not fair to Nigerians and we must fight it head-on.”
The National Assembly and the Federal Government have been asked to immediately control in the abuses of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kaduna by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kaduna State branch.
Speaking to reporters in Kaduna on Friday, Pharm. Sunday Ali Okoh, the Chairman of PSN Kaduna State branch, bemoaned the abuses of the NDLEA and urged the National Assembly and the presidency to step in.
In Okoh’s opinion, the Agency occasionally impeded and hindered their roles in an unnecessarily illegal and unprofessional manner.
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He clarified that while the group understood the agency’s responsibilities to apprehend and prosecute drug dealers, they did not intend to obstruct pharmacists from performing their legally mandated duties.
In his words, “All over the planet earth, the rights to medications (life) are fundamental.”
It is worthy of note that pharmacists are licensed to import, export, mix, compound, prepare, dispense, counsel, sell, procure and distribute drugs, (PCN Act 2022,).”
“Time without number, the NDLEA has unduly, illegally and unprofessionally obstructed and hindered these life saving roles only to feather their nests, exploit Nigerians, collect bribes and force their victims to give assent that bail is free after collecting millions of Naira,” he claimed. He claimed that agents of the law have turned into lawbreakers.
He explained, “Pharmacists are legal entities and many patients’ medication are stored with them; sealing up pharmacists is as good as denying the citizens their right to life.”
On Friday morning, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle landed in Nigeria to begin their 72-hour visit.
The couple took a British Airways aircraft and arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
The Daily Mail claims that the flight, which arrived at around five in the morning, was delayed due to a sick pilot.
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Yesterday, the Duchess of Sussex took a plane to Heathrow to meet her husband at the airport’s private Windsor Suite.
Harry and Meghan are traveling to Nigeria together for the first time.
Other passengers were pulled over as they were led into a waiting van that had been completely darkened.
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