The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgment in the appeals filed by the federal government and detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

A five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, had chosen the date, after lawyer to the federal government, Tijani Gazali (SAN) and counsel to Kanu, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) made final submissions.

The federal government prays the court to set aside an earlier judgment by the Court of Appeal, which quashed the treasonable felony charge against Kanu and ordered his release on the grounds that he was unlawfully brought back to the country after he jumped bail.

Kanu, on his part, wants the Supreme Court to allow the judgment of the Court of Appeal and uphold his discharge and acquittal.

In his final submission, Gazali urged the apex court “to allow the appeal, set aside the judgment of the court below and affirm the judgment of the trial court (Federal High Court), to the effect that the respondent should stand trial in respect of the charge, which the court below quashed.”

Gazali further urged the court to dismiss the cross appeal filed by Kanu.

Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court had in an earlier ruling, struck out eight counts out of the 15 counts in the original charge filed against Kanu, leaving seven, which the Court of Appeal quashed in its judgment.

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Oil and Gas has summoned the Minister of State (Petroleum Resources), Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Minister of State (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, following their failure to appear before it yesterday.

The committee ordered the duo to appear before it on Monday or risk facing legislative action from the National Assembly.

The joint committee comprises the Senate House of Representatives Committees on Gas and all the Committees on Petroleum (Downstream, Midstream and Upstream) of both chambers.

The two ministers were scheduled to appear to defend their budgets on Thursday but none of them did. They did not also send representatives

Speaking on the actions of the ministers, the Chairman Senate Committee on Gas, Jarigbe Jarigbe lamented that the meeting was earlier scheduled for Wednesday but it was postponed because of the absence of the ministers.

Speaking on behalf of the House Committees, Alhassan Doguwa (APC, Kano), who is the Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), said the actions of the ministers contradict the message of collaboration preached by President Bola Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu has said the efforts of his administration to transform Nigeria’s economy are yielding results with the support of the National Assembly led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

Speaking at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of the Senate President in Abuja, President Tinubu said the challenges facing the country will be jointly assessed by the executive and legislature with a view to evolving implementable solutions for the good of Nigerians.

President Tinubu extolled the leadership skills of the Senate President, saying he has always shown commitment to national development, starting out as a commissioner in Akwa Ibom State.

Akpabio said the tenth assembly is committed to looking into the constitution.

Also in attendance was Senior Lawyer Olisa Agbakoba who charged the political class to work for the interest of the people.