“Nnamdi Kanu Will Die In Prison, I Fear” – Mike Ozekhome

Nnamdi Kanu’s senior attorney, Mike Ozekhome, has expressed concern that, if he is not freed, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) could pass away while being held by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ozekhome addressed the justices and voiced his concerns at Kanu’s case hearing at the Supreme Court, On May 11.

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Kanu is very ill and needs surgery, the senior attorney told the Supreme Court, so he should be released right away. The attorney requested that Kanu be moved from DSS custody to Kuje Correctional Center so that he may start receiving treatment.

“My Lords, Nnamdi Kanu is sick, he has been approved for surgery but they have refused to release him for treatment. We are pleading for him to be transferred from DSS custody to Kuje correctional centre so that he can begin treatment like others. He’s getting really sick, I’m scared he may die in the custody of DSS. Dead bodies are not prosecuted,” he told the court.

The supreme court responded to Ozekhome’s request by declaring that God will keep the IPOB leader alive and that he will not perish in custody.

The court claimed that even if it continued to hear the appeal, it would not have enough time left on its calendar to reach a decision and deliver it within the allotted 90 days.

“Nnamdi Kanu will not die in detention. God will keep him alive and his blood won’t be in your hands,” the court said.

The court matter was then postponed until September 14.

Recall that on June 19, 2021, Kanu was detained in Kenya and transported to Nigeria. The federal authorities then charged him with terrorism.

Justice Binta Nyako dismissed eight of the fifteen count accusations on April 8, 2022, and on October 13, 2022, the court of appeal later overturned the remaining seven counts.

Upon finding Kanu not guilty of the terrorism accusations brought against him by the federal government, the court of appeals granted a stay of execution on its decision on October 28, 2022.

Kanu and his attorneys are in front of the Supreme Court appealing the Court of Appeal’s decision.