Displaying items by tag: IPOB

Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, Rev Fr Ejike Mbaka, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.

The Catholic priest was reported to have made the call during a sermon on Sunday, at his adoration ground.

Mbaka stated that he made the request when some government agents allegedly came calling with some offers.

He said, “Some persons came to me some time ago that they have two slots for me. I told them I don’t need such offers because I have a slot that I need. They said I should mention what I need.

“My first request was that they should release Nnamdi Kanu because since you people arrested him, we have lost many lives, so of what use is his arrest if after he was arrested, kidnapping hasn’t stopped in the North? Arresting him doesn’t solve the problem.”

“Where were the nation’s security agencies when several students were kidnapped?” he asked while urging the government to use the same energy used in arresting Kanu to arrest kidnappers.

Mbaka attributed the rise in banditry and kidnapping to the activities of the politicians who purchase arms for the thugs during elections, advised the government to use the same vigour used in arresting Kanu to arrest insecurity, poverty, unemployment, activities of herdsmen, injustice and nepotism.

The British passport on which the re-arrested leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, purportedly travelled to Kenya, still remains in the East African country, The Guardian of London reported Saturday.

Kanu was re-arrested in Kenya in what the federal government called international collaborative efforts late last month.

Kenya had denied involvement in the operation.

Kanu later admitted to his counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor that he was indeed nabbed in Nairobi from where he was flown to Abuja to continue his trial for treasonable felony.

But The Guardian in its report said evidence seen by it showed that Kanu entered Kenya this year on his British passport on a visa expiring in June.

It said the passport remains in Kenya.

The newspaper Saturday quoted Kingsley, Kanu’s bother, as saying he had spoken to him while he was in Kenya days before he went missing last month.

His words: “I spoke to him on the phone, he was well in Nairobi.

“His associates said he went out, he didn’t take his documents with him so he wasn’t planning on going anywhere.

“Then all of a sudden we see him paraded in handcuffs in Abuja.

“It is an extraordinary rendition, aided by Kenyan authorities.

“It is an outrage that cannot be allowed to happen. We are holding the Nigerian government and Kenyan government responsible.

“The British government, they know what is happening.”

Kingsly Kanu also said UK officials had made contact with the family and legal team and that there were concerns he would be abused in detention.

He said: “I am concerned for his wellbeing because you know how they will treat him.”

Kanu also claimed that his brother was not in possession of a Nigerian passport as he had verbally renounced Nigerian citizenship in broadcasts on Radio Biafra.

The British newspaper said abduction of a person from a foreign country with the aim of rendition to justice is illegal under international law.

But Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami has repeatedly denied that Kanu’s re-arrest was illegal as Nigeria applied due process in Kanu’s extradition.

“It was abundantly clear that bench warrant was lawfully and judiciously procured through judicial process by a competent court of law, whose bail condition Nnamdi Kanu breached with impunity,” the minister said last week.

He added: “There was no illegality in the entire process and the question of illegality does not even arise.

“It is a common principle of the law that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.”

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has  bared its mind on the interception and re-arraignment of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

National Executive Committee (NEC) of the apex Igbo body rose from its meeting in Enugu, Saturday, pledging to monitor every aspect of the trial process.

A communique released by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia said the group has constituted a committee of eminent Igbo lawyers and leaders to track the proceedings throughout the trial.

The communique read: “That Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has observed with keen interest the recent re-arraignment and consequent trial of our son, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“That in as much as Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not averse to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we however submit that he should be tried within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with global best practices.

“That as part of our avowed determination to ensure the fair trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, we have constituted a legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and eminent Igbo leaders to monitor the legal proceedings, throughout the trial.

“That we strongly support the stand taken by the  Southern Governors Forum on anti-open grazing, restructuring, rotation of the President of Nigeria to the South in 2023, and the proposed 5% share of the Petroleum Industries Bill (PIB) for the host communities.

“That we identify with the Igbo youths in their grievances with respect to Igbo marginalization, menace of the Fulani herdsmen, etc; however we do not support the use of any form of violence to redress the relative deprivation and prevailing inequality and injustice across the country. We therefore urge the youths to be law abiding and sheath their sword as the South East leaders and stakeholders address these our collective grievances through meaningful dialogue and negotiations.

“That we therefore urge Ndigbo particularly the youths to take the ongoing voters’ registration exercise seriously, as this is the only means that guarantees effective participation in Nigerian politics and a sine qua non to achieving our goals and aspirations in the Nigeria project.”

Source: The Sun

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor alleged that the the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra was detained in Kenya for eight days before he was extradited to Kenya.

Ejiofor made this claim after he visited the IPOB leader in the Department of State Services (DSS) custody on Friday.

Kanu has been in DSS custody since he was extradited to the country.

The Federal Government had refused to disclose the location of Kanu’s arrest but Kingsley Kanu, his brother, had said his brother was arrested in Kenya.

But the Director-General of Kenyan Immigration Services, Alexander Muteshi, denied knowledge of Kanu’s arrest.

According to Ejiofor, “My Client – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was actually abducted by the accursed Kenya’s Special Police Force on the 18th of June 2021 at their International Airport and consequently taken to an undisclosed residence under dehumanizing conditions.

“He was tortured and subjected to all forms of inhuman treatment which worsened his health condition. He was illegally detained for eight (8) good DAYS in Kenya before being transferred to their Nigerian counterparts.

“He was purportedly investigated on a bogus charge while in their custody, ostensibly, awaiting to be handed over after their findings proved him innocent of all the spurious allegations. They later beckoned on their Nigerian counterparts to take over.

“Kenyan Government was deeply involved in the abduction, detention and ill-treatment of my Client before the illegal handover to their Nigerian counterpart.

“A scan of his heart showed that the heart has enlarged by 13% due to the dehumanising treatment meted to him. There will be need for immediate proper medical examination and attention for him.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu conveyed his goodwill message to all IPOB family members worldwide, and craved for your unrelentless prayers.

“We are going back to the Court for the needful. Other details cannot be entertained here. His fortified legal team will address these infractions at the proper forum as we progress. Other details on our legal strategy, may not be made public.

“With Chukwuokike Abiama on our side, Victory is assured. For if God Almighty be for us, who can be against us? #freeMaziNnamdiKanu#”

 

 

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been granted access to meet with his lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

The Counsel to the IPOB leader made this known in a tweet on Friday.

The lawyer tweeted, “Update, Thankfully Our effort is yielding the desired result, we have just received a communication approving Our visit to Our Client- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Shall keep the World posted on the outcome, immediately after the meeting, later in the Day. God is with us.” 

IPOB group complained that their leader was denied access to a lawyer before the trial on Tuesday.

Kanu, who is facing an 11-count charge of treason, treasonable felony, terrorism and illegal possession of firearms, among others, jumped bail in 2017 and left the country.

The former London estate agent disappeared in 2017 after being released on bail, only to re-emerge in Israel and then in the United Kingdom.

He was re-arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday and ordered to be remanded in the custody of the DSS, while the case was adjourned till July 26 and July 27.

The Federal Government said security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of Kanu for over two years before he was re-arrested, adding that the head of the outlawed IPOB movement was detained again on Sunday – without giving details on the location of his arrest.

Kanu was initially arrested in late 2015 after calling for a separate state for Biafra, in South-East Nigeria. 

His detention sparked mass protests and clashes with security services. 

IPOB, which agitates for a separate Igbo state, has denied being behind the violence, accusing the government of a smear campaign. Election offices have also been attacked by suspected members of the group.

 

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has being reported to have rejected the move by Catriona Laing, UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, to discuss the arrest of the Leaders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu, who is also a British citizen, was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya this week after evading arrest for almost four years.

He was mostly in the UK from where he runs Radio Biafra, IPOB’s radio station with which he often engages in the call for a Biafra.

He was then arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako who ordered his remand in the custody of the DSS until his next trial date.

Dean Hurlock, a spokesperson of the British High Commission, had earlier told TheCable that the UK is “in the process of seeking clarification” from the federal government regarding his arrest.

According to TheCable, Laing raised the issue of Kanu’s arrest, but the minister quickly rebuffed her.

A source familiar with the matter said he told Laing that the matter was “not part of the agenda and we’re not going to discuss it”

There is little official information about Kanu’s arrest other than Malami’s statement that the IPOB leader was “intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and Security Services”.

Other highlights of the meeting between Malami and Laing, according to Umar Gwandu, the minister’s spokesman, was the former’s insistence that Nigeria was right to ban Twitter.

AGF Malami said the nation’s interest is paramount above other considerations.

The minister added that any company operating in Nigeria must understand this and respect the nation’s interest.

“If you want operate as a business entity in Nigeria, you must do so within the context of Nigerian laws. Nothing offensive or that breaches the Nigerian laws should be entertained,” he said.

The minister and his guest discussed bilateral issues on asset recovery, anti-corruption crusade, amendment of the electoral act, the audit bill, petroleum industry bill, Twitter ban and counter-terrorism.