By Vivian Okejeme
Abuja
Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court, Abuja, will on October 12, hear a suit asking for an order to the British High Commission and the Nigerian Immigration Service to arrest and repatriate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the United Kingdom back to Nigeria to stand his trial.
The suit also asked the court for an order directing the Attorney-General of the Federation to advise President Mohammadu Buhari, to declare the British High Commission as persona non grata for alleged complicity in facilitating and harbouring a fugitive from justice in her territory being the United Kingdom.
He said, should Kanu refuse to appear in court on the next adjourned date, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, who stood as one of his sureties will be arrested as required by law.
The development, according to him, will deny him and the good people of Abia South senatorial district, representation at the Senate and by extension the dividends of democracy.
In the suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/9300/17, the British High Commission, the Comptroller, Nigerian Immigration Service and the Attorney-General of the Federation are joined as respondents.
The case which has been assigned to Justice Tsoho, will be coming up on October 12.
In the suit, the plaintiff, Ugochukwu Kenneth, through his lawyers, Obor John, Esq. and Tersagh Unande, Esq., asked the court to determine whether by a true interpretation of Sections 1, 4 and 5 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 the 1st and 2nd defendants have not abdicated their duties by failing, neglecting or omitting to prevent and arrest the IPOB separatist leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for treason and terrorism in Nigeria from illegally travelling to the United Kingdom?
In support of the suit is an affidavit, deposed to, by the plaintiff, he said, “That consequent upon the above condition, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, the Senator representing the good people of Abia South Senatorial District of Abia state, Tochukwu Uchendu and Jewish Chief High Priest Immanuel –El Shalom Oka-Ben Madu, perfected the bail bond which facilitated the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“That upon the perfection of the bail and consequent release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from prison custody, Mazi Kanu has to the best of my knowledge breached all the bail conditions to wit; granting press interviews while on bail, participating in any rally, or being found in a crowd of more than ten persons in the course of the bail and to make matters worse, Mazi Kanu has finally travelled to the United Kingdom in an attempt to escape trial and the arm of the law.
“That I know as a fact that if Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has travelled to the United Kingdom in an attempt to escape justice, fails to appear in court on the next adjourned date being 17th October, 2017 the freedom of the Senator representing my district and other co-sureties will be in jeopardy.
“That consequent upon the above, if Senator Abaribe who is my representative is finally arrested as required by law, myself and the good people of Abia South senatorial district will be denied representation at the Senate and by extension the dividends of democracy.”
