The fundamental human rights suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu against the federal government was Monday dismissed by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the suit, Kanu is seeking N1 billion damages from the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Service, for alleged right violation.
Marked: FHC/CS/1633/2023, the IPOB leader claimed that the DSS and its Director General violated his right to fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him where he is being detained, in preparation of his defence in his criminal trial.
While delivering judgement in the suit, Justice Omotosho held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to fair hearing.
The judge further held that the applicant failed to prove that his lawyers were stopped from taking notes at meetings held with him during visitation.
He said there was no evidence before him showing that Kanu was denied a fair hearing as claimed in his suit.
Justice Omotosho consequently dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, in an originating motion dated and filed December 4, 2023, sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney-General of the Federation, DSS and its DG, as 1st to 4th respondents respectively.
