The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed media reports that claimed the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, had been ordered released and returned to Kenya by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. In a statement issued on Thursday, NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Mrs. Kemi Ogedengbe, clarified that there was no basis for such claims, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria is not involved in Kanu’s trial, which is being heard at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The statement reads: “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 repatriate him to Kenya.
“The council wishes to state that the media report is false and figment of imagination of the writer, as there are no court proceedings, decision or judgment where such statements ascribed to His Lordship (the CJN) was made.
“The council categorically emphasizes that the Hon CJN neither preside over any case of Kanu at the apex court, where jurisdiction issue was argued, nor make any such pronouncement.
“His Lordship, the Hon CJN never wrote any formal letter to the Kenya Government or Kenya High Commission apologising on the issue of arrest of Nnamdi Kanu and trial.
“The council urges members of the public to disregard the fake story.”
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