Nnamdi Kanu has informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that he plans to pursue negotiations with the Federal Government under Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act states: “In any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”.
Through his lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, Kanu made this known on Wednesday after he filed two applications before the court.
The first application seeks to move form 49, and the second application objects to the jurisdiction of the court. Ejimakor stated that if these applications are denied, they will move for the implementation of Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
In response, counsel for the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, informed the court that he had previously notified the defendant that he lacks the authority to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government, as his mandate does not empower him to negotiate. He suggested that the defendant should approach the Attorney General of the Federation.
In her response, Justice Binta Nyako clarified that the court’s role is not to act as a solicitor but to adjudicate cases.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 2021, following his arrest in Kenya, and has since faced terrorism-related charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
