A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has denied the request of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to wear the Igbo traditional attire ‘is agu’ in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Judge, Justice James Omotosho, on Thursday, held that the application is devoid of merit and was consequently refused, OsunDailyNG reports.
According to him, the court’s denial of Kanu’s request to wear the ‘isi agu’ while in the custody of the DSS does not violate his human right as claimed by the IPOB leader.
According to the court, Kanu failed to prove his assertion to be granted the reliefs sought in his suit and added that there is nothing on record before the court to show that he was discriminated against or that other inmates enjoy any form of privileges or rights than the applicant.
The IPOB leader, through his lawyer, Maxwell Okpara, had filed a fundamental human rights enforcement suit.
He had prayed to the court for a declaration that the DSS while carrying out their lawful duties, are bound to respect the fundamental rights of citizens.
He also wants the court to declare that he is entitled to his human rights while in the respondents’ custody.
Recall that Justice Nyako had earlier, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021 rejected Kanu’s similar application to wear his traditional Igbo title attire, which depicts the insignia of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
The respondents, the Director General of the DSS, the Services, and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in their counters, averred that they have not in any way bridged the constitutional right of Kanu.
They held that Justice Binta Nyako, before whom Kanu is standing trial for treasonable felony, had barred him from wearing Igbo traditional attire and that granting that would amount to promoting the cause for which he is being held.
During today’s hearing, Justice Omotosho said, “The case of the applicant is based on speculation without any concrete evidence, the applicant’s suit lacks merit, same failed and consequently, the suit is hereby refused.”
