On Thursday night, a man in Enugu who is thought to be a supporter of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) set fire to his car in celebration of the Appeal Court’s decision clearing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu of the terrorist charges brought against him by the Nigerian government.
Man Sets His Own Car Ablaze To Celebrate Nnamdi Kanu’s Discharge
According to reports, the individual, whose name was withheld, had already vowed to commit the crime if Nnamdi Kanu were to be freed from custody. After the verdict on Thursday, the man carried out his promise by driving to the spot, getting out of the car, and setting it ablaze with gasoline.
The odd performance was performed at the Onitsha South Mass Transit bus park, next to the Holy Ghost Cathedral in Enugu, and it attracted bystanders who recorded it while other worried people tried to put out the roaring fire.
Recall that a three-judge appellate court bench determined that Kanu was unlawfully taken from Kenya by Nigerian operatives using a procedure known as extraordinary rendition, which experts in human rights classify as an abduction.
The courts ruled that unless federal authorities provided an explanation for why they relocated Kanu from Nairobi to Abuja in June 2022, the Nigerian government could not prosecute Kanu for any crimes committed within the nation.
In a statement released on Thursday in response to the verdict and signed by his spokesperson, Dr. Umar Jibril Gwandu, the Federal Government stated that the appeal court only cleared Kanu of all charges and did not find him guilty.
“The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement said. “For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.
“Consequently, the appropriate legal options before the authorities will be exploited and communicated accordingly to the public.
“The decision handed down by the court of appeal was on a single issues that borders on rendition.
“Let it be made clear to the general public that other issues that predates rendition on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail remain valid issues for judicial determination.
“The Federal Government will consider all available options open to us on the judgment on rendition while pursuing determination of pre-rendition issues.”
