The Ridiculous Stay of Execution, A Travesty Staring Nigeria Judiciary In The Face

  The Ridiculous Stay of Execution, A Travesty Staring Nigeria Judiciary In The Face

In the ongoing saga of Nnamdi Kanu's legal tussle with the Nigerian government, the Nigerian judiciary seems to have discovered a new twist in the legal lexicon, the elusive "stay of execution." This legal maneuver, normally reserved for ensuring fairness in judicial proceedings, has taken on a curious new form in Kanu's case – one that seems more like a tragicomedy than a legal principle.

Picture this. Nnamdi Kanu the enigmatic leader of the IPOB movement, offers a reward of One million Naira to any law student who can unearth a precedent where a Nigerian judge granted a stay of execution to someone acquitted and discharged of all charges. It is a bit like searching for a unicorn in a field of legal briefs – mythical and elusive.

The Court of Appeal's decision to grant a stay of execution after acquitting Kanu of terrorism charges has left legal pundits scratching their heads. It is as if the judiciary decided to play a game of legal hide-and-seek, with Kanu stuck in the middle, wondering if he will ever see the light of day outside DSS gulag.      

       

Meanwhile, Kanu's legal team, led by Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, fires back with righteous indignation, arguing that the stay of execution is not just a legal maneuver but a slapstick comedy of errors. They accuse the government of engaging in "Executive recklessness," a term that sounds more fitting for a sitcom plot than a legal brief.

In the courtroom drama that unfolds, the Supreme Court finds itself cast as the ultimate arbiter of this legal circus, tasked with untangling the web of judicial acrobatics. Will they uphold justice, or will they continue this theatrical performance of legal semantics?

As Kanu remains in custody, purportedly for "jumping bail," one wonders if the Nigerian judiciary's playbook includes chapters on irony and absurdity. After all, in a country where court orders are treated as mere suggestions, Kanu's case stands out as a masterclass in a legal farce.

In the end, as Kanu's legal tussle continues to unfold, one thing is certain: the Nigerian judiciary might just win an award for the most creative interpretation of legal terms. Stay tuned for the next episode of "Justice Delayed, Justice Denied – Nigerian Edition,"

Family Writers Press International.