Nnamdi Kanu, the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), had asked to wear the Igbo traditional dress, or “isi agu,” while in detention, but the Federal High Court in Abuja once more turned him down.
Kanu’s application was rejected on Thursday by Justice James Omotoso, who found it to be without merit.
The Court ruled that, contrary to what the petitioner claimed, the refusal to wear traditional Igbo clothing did not constitute a breach of human rights.
The IPOB leader has allegedly failed to establish his claim in order to obtain the reliefs he requested in his lawsuit, according to the court.
According to Justice Omotoso, there is no evidence in the case that the petitioner was subjected to discrimination or that other prisoners were granted any more advantages or rights than he was.
” The case of the applicant is based on speculation without any concrete evidence, the applicant’s suit lacked merit, same failed and consequently the suit is hereby refused”
In his fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by his counsel, Maxwell Okpara, Kanu had prayed the court for a declaration that the DSS while carrying out their lawful duties are bound to respect the fundamental rights of citizens
A declaration that the applicant (Kanu) currently under detention is entitled to his human right according to the Constitution.
The applicant also wanted the court to hold that preventing him from wearing the Igbo traditional attire and other traditional attire which the Constitution does not forbid amounted to a violation of his fundamental human rights.
The Respondents, DG DSS and AGF in their counter affidavits had averred that they have not in any way breached the constitutional right of Kanu.
They held that Justice Binta Nyako before whom Kanu is standing trial for treasonable felony had barred Kanu from wearing the Igbo traditional outfits, adding that granting the request would amount to promoting a terrorist cause for which he is being held.
Justice Binta Nyako had in another suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021 rejected Kanu’s similar application to wear his traditional Igbo title attire which depicts the stigma of the proscribed organization known as Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).