The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the (IPOB), on grounds that the case had become academic after his conviction and remand to prison. The court held that the arguments about violations of his rights to dignity, adequate health care and freedom of religion could no longer stand given that he had already been convicted and was being detained in prison.
The case had originally been filed against the DSS Director General and the Attorney-General, seeking to move Kanu from DSS custody to Kuje prison. But since his lawyer confirmed in court that Kanu was already in Sokoto prison — the same type of custody he requested — the court said there was no need to grant the requested orders. Having rejected his earlier fundamental rights suit, the Appellate Court saw no merit in allowing the appeal to proceed.
With this decision, Kanu’s claim for redress from alleged rights abuses in detention is closed for now, and the earlier convictions remain in force.