The federal high court sitting in Abuja has again refused the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu request to wear the Igbo traditional attire “isi agu” while in custody.
Justice James Omotoso delivering judgement on Thursday in a Fundamental Human Rights suit filed by Kanu held that the application seeking to enforce his rights of choice to wear his traditional attires lack merit and consequently refused.
The court stated that denial of wearing of Igbo traditional attire does not amount to violation of human rights as alleged by the applicant.
According to the court the IPOB leader failed to prove his assertion to be granted the reliefs sought in his suit.
The judge said 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 wearing their traditional attires in custody than the applicant.
” The case of applicant is bases on speculation without any concrete evidence, the applicant suit lack merit, same failed and consequently the suit is hereby refused,” the judge held.
In fundamental human rights enforcement suit filed by his counsel Maxwell Okpara, Kanu had prayed the court for declaration that the DSS while carrying out it’s lawful duties are bound to respect fundamental rights of citizen.
He had sought a declaration that the applicant currently under detention is entitled to his human rights according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and that the DSS had breached those rights by preventing him from wearing his traditional attires to court.
The application also wanted the court to hold that preventing Kanu from wearing Igbo traditional attire and other traditional attires which the Constitution does not forbid amounted to infringement of his rights.
The Respondents, Director General Department of State Services and Attorney General Federation in their counter affidavits had averred that they have not in any way breached the constitutional right of Kanu.
Besides, they had prayed the court to hold that Justice Binta Nyako who Kanu stood trial for reasonable felony had refused Kanu’s similar application to be allowed to wear Igbo traditional attire on the ground that it would amount to promoting the course in which he is being held.
Justice Binta Nyako in suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1585/2021 had refused Kanu similar application to wear his traditional Igbo title attire with the insignia of the proscribed organization known as Indigenous People of Biafra,(IPOB).