March 20, (THEWILL) – The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed as false reports claiming that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, ordered the release and repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Kenya.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, the NJC clarified that Justice Kekere-Ekun has never presided over any case involving Kanu, let alone issued such an order.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 27, 2021, was extradited from Kenya following his re-arrest on June 19 of the same year. He is scheduled to appear before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday to take a fresh plea on a seven-count amended charge of treason and terrorism.
This follows a Supreme Court ruling on December 15, 2023, which overturned the judgment of the Court of Appeal that had discharged him.
The NJC also debunked claims that the CJN wrote a letter of apology to the Kenyan government or its High Commission in Nigeria regarding Kanu’s arrest and trial.
The statement read, “The Council wishes to state that the media report is false and a figment of the writer’s imagination, as there are no court proceedings, decisions, or judgments where such statements were made.
“The Hon. CJN never presided over any case involving Kanu at the Supreme Court, nor made any pronouncement regarding his release or repatriation. Furthermore, no formal letter was sent to the Kenyan government or its High Commission apologizing for Kanu’s arrest and trial.”
The NJC urged the public to disregard the misinformation and cautioned against the spread of unverified reports.
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