On Friday, the Court of Appeal upheld the Federal Government’s request for a stay of the October 13 verdict that freed Nnamdi Kanu.
Also, Justice Haruna Tsanammi directed that the Supreme Court receive the decision’s outcome within seven days for a prompt hearing.
As a result, it is expected that Mr. Kanu, the president of the Indigenous People of Biafra, would continue to be held by the Department of State Services until the Supreme Court considers the matter.
The Court of Appeal on October 13 had discharged Kanu who is being prosecuted by the Federal Government at the Federal High Court in Abuja for charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism.
A three-man panel of the Court of Appeal said the Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to try him in view of his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria in flagrant violation of the OAU convention and protocol on extradition.
The court also held charges preferred against Kanu did not disclose the place, date, time and nature of the alleged offences before being unlawfully extradited to Nigeria in clear violation of international treaties.
To stop Kanu’s subsequent release, the Federal Government had applied that the execution of the judgment be suspended pending the resolution of its appeal lodged at the Supreme Court.
Justice Tsanammi ruled on Friday that Kanu’s legal team’s counter affidavit opposing the Federal Government’s plea was false.