By Atoyebi Nike
Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has returned the case file of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
Kanu, through his counsel, Uchenna Njoku, SAN, had filed an ex parte motion seeking an order to transfer him to the National Hospital, Abuja, for urgent medical attention.
In a short ruling on Monday, Justice Liman said the motion was filed late and could not be decided during the vacation period, which ended September 15. He noted that the day’s schedule had over 30 cases listed, pruned down to six, and that under Section 46(8) of the Federal High Court Rules, any matter not concluded during vacation must be sent back to the Chief Judge for reassignment.
Counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, did not oppose the application. He, however, remarked that the motion should have been filed earlier for consideration during the vacation period, but assured that the DSS was ready to proceed with the matter once reassigned.
Justice Liman then ordered that the file be sent to the registry for reassignment to a regular court.
