The Nigerian government has been ordered by a high court in Umuahia, Abia state, to pay N1 billion to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), for violation of his fundamental human rights.
Kanu filed the suit through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor against Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the federation (AGF), and the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly violating his fundamental human rights.
Apart from the AGF and the Director-General of DSS, other respondents include the federal government of Nigeria (first), chief of army staff (third), Inspector-General of police (fifth), and three others.
As part of other reliefs sought in the suit marked HIH/FR14/2021, Kanu requested that the court to force the respondents to pay him N5 billion in damages as monetary compensation for the “physical, mental, emotional, psychological and other damages” suffered due to the alleged infringement on his fundamental rights.
Also, he sought damages for invading his father’s house on September 10, 2017, by the military.
While delivering judgment recently, the Judge, Benson Anya, labelled Kanu Afaraukwu residence’s invasion as notorious and brazen.
Also, the judge ordered the federal government to publicly apologise to Kanu in three national dailies.
The Judge however struck out other reliefs sought by Kanu’s legal team, including an order against his lingering detention by the DSS.
