The family members of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, have rejected the Supreme Court’s verdict in his terrorism case.
Emma Kanu, Kanu’s younger brother, told journalists that the court decision was unfortunate.
He stated that no one in his family was pleased with the verdict.
“This case began with the Federal High Court, which of course lacked the jurisdiction to try Nnamdi Kanu from here, through the High Court to the Appeal Court, which discharged and acquitted him, and then a stay of execution was filed against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and it was granted on civil proceedings, which is very wrong. Legally, it is wrong. But it was granted.
“I believe there is no due diligence in this case, and for those who have been handling the matter before now, there was no due diligence.
“Now taking the case back again and having acknowledged in court today by the judge that delivered this judgment that the way and manner in which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was brought back to Nigeria was illegal. He agreed with the Appeal Court that it was an extraordinary rendition. He said the invasion of his house was also illegal and that the security agents acted irresponsibly.
“He said also that the revocation of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s bail was wrong and that it shouldn’t have happened in the first place, but he concluded by saying that the appeal by the Federal Government was granted, while the cross-appeal was not allowed, referring the case to square one, which is where we came from, which is the Federal High Court Abuja.
“Bearing in mind that some of the charges have been quashed, which we all know was the truth, where are they going to start from? Of course, what is left is a bailable offense, which Nnamdi Kanu never committed.
“So, I am yet to understand what is actually playing out, but I can assure you that we are not happy and nobody is happy.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
