A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja minutes ago ordered the immediate releasePrince Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Ruling on a case brought against Kanu by the Federal Government, Justice Adeniyi Ademola said it was illegal for the Department of State Services (DSS) to still be holding the separatist leader despite a court order to release him.

A Magistrate of the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, Shuaibu Usman, had yesterday discharged Kanu on all counts of criminal conspiracy and ownership of an unlawful society brought against him by the Nigerian Government.

After holding that the government had dropped the charges against Kanu, the judge ruled: “The accused person is hereby discharged and the case struck out.”

The magistrate had earlier granted Kanu bail but DSS continued to keep him despite meeting the stringent conditions, thus sparking protests, especially in the South-East and South-South.

•Photo shows Nnamdi Kanu.