The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed reports claiming that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and NJC Chairman, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, ordered the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and his repatriation to Kenya.
In a statement on Thursday, March 20, 2024, NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Mrs. Kemi Ogedengbe, refuted the claims, stating that the CJN has no involvement in Kanu’s trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
“The attention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) has been drawn to media reports that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, has ordered the release of the detained Nnamdi Kanu and his repatriation to Kenya. The council wishes to state that the media report is false and a figment of the writer’s imagination, as there are no court proceedings, decisions, or judgments where such statements were made,” the statement read.
The NJC emphasized that the CJN neither presided over any case involving Kanu at the Supreme Court nor made any pronouncements regarding his release or repatriation. Additionally, the council clarified that Justice Kekere-Ekun never issued a formal apology to the Kenyan government or its high commission regarding Kanu’s arrest and trial.
The NJC urged the public to disregard the false reports and rely only on verified information regarding ongoing legal proceedings.
