Justice James Tsoho of a Federal High Court in Abuja is on Monday allowed the proposed prosecution witnesses lined up by the Federal Government to testify behind a witness screen against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
The judge dismissed the objection by Kanu’s lawyer, Mr. Chuks Muoma (SAN), ruling that the request by the Federal Government for its witnesses to testify behind a witness screen did not amount to revisiting the court’s earlier ruling prohibiting the prosecution witnesses from wearing masks.
He upheld the argument of the prosecution led by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mohammed Diri, that the screen would only shield the witnesses from the members of the public present in court.
He said the use of the screen would not prevent the judge, the accused persons and lawyers to the parties to see the witnesses while testifying.
A witness screen is a device positioned to shield a witness from seeing the accused in the courtroom.
The court also dismissed the request by Muoma that the court should discharge and acquit its witnesses because the prosecution failed to produce its witnesses to enable the trial to commence on Monday.
The judge ruled that the provision of section 351(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 relied on by the defence to ask for the quashing of the charges, did not apply to the circumstances of the case.
According to the judge, the court can only dismiss the charges against an accused person who is present in court when the complainant in the case is not represented in court.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has asked that the lawyer who served as his lead counsel in previous sittings, M. U. Udechukwu, step down for Chucks Muoma.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
Mr. Kanu wrote to the court, ahead of Friday’s sitting, asking that there should be a change in his representation.
Mr. Kanu is facing charges of treason. The court is to rule on his bail application today.
In the letter, read during a dramatic session, the judge, John Tsoho said he was asked to change Mr. Kanu’s lead counsel, because according to Mr. Kanu, the person who represented him in previous sittings was different from the person he had instructed.
When lawyers announced their appearances, Mr. Udechukwu told the court that he had been informed of the letter, saying he would immediately stand down for Mr. Muoma to continue the case.
But Mr. Muoma said he was surprised that Mr. Udechukwu had raised the issue so early.
He said he had told Mr. Udechukwu that there was a letter to that effect, but that he should first complete the bail application he was handling, before withdrawing.
In his reaction, Mr. Udechukwu insisted on handing over the case, because the letter said he had impersonated the lead counsel at previous hearings.
Mr. Udechukwu said impersonation, a serious offence, could affect his legal profession of almost 20 years.
He therefore prayed the court to record his apology for the said offence, and that the court should note that he was withdrawing from the case.
The judge, Mr. Tsoho, who had earlier hesitated to read the letter, regarding it as an issue that should be resolved by the counsels, asked to know the name of the particular counsel he would record for Mr. Kanu.
Mr. Muoma told the court that he and Mr. Ejiofor would take the place of the defendant’s counsel.
Mr. Udechukwu told the court that his withdrawal would affect the other counsels who came with him.
Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Federal Government to obey the court order granting bail to former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Femi Falana
In a statement, entitled: “The orders for the bail of Dasuki and Kanu should be obeyed”, Falana said the alleged refusal of the Department of State Services (DSS) to obey the order admitting them to bail, coupled with the failure to re-arraign Dasuki on fresh charges, amounted to impunity.
The lawyer noted that for the 16 years that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in power, the Federal Government exhibited total contempt for the rule of law, in which the constitution and other laws were breached with impunity while court orders were disobeyed on a regular basis.
According to him, one of the reasons Nigerians voted for President Muhammadu Buhari was his promise to fight corruption and end impunity.
“Therefore, he has a duty to ensure that all organs and officials of the government operate within the ambit of the law,” the lawyer said.
Falana said the President should not allow overzealous security personnel to engage in impunity and thereby expose the government to unwarranted embarrassment.
“The decision of the DSS to ignore the order admitting Col. Dasuki to bail coupled with the failure to re-arraign him on fresh charges is tantamount to impunity. If the Federal Government was aggrieved by the order admitting Col. Dasuki to bail, it should have challenged it at the Court of Appeal.”
Falana said the order admitting Kanu to bail should also be complied with.
To him, if the Federal Government had other charges against both suspects, it should file them in court.
“There is no provision for keeping criminal suspects at the pleasure of security officials. Meanwhile, all valid and subsisting orders made by courts in favour of criminal suspects should be obeyed without further delay,” he said.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, described Nigeria as a zoo and accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of Islamising Imo State in an interview he granted an online medium, Sahara Reporters.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
He, however, said in one of the statements he made to the Department of State Services after he was arrested at a Lagos hotel on October 14, 2015 that he made the said comments in order to facilitate societal change.
Kanu and two others have been charged with treason and other related offences on account of his agitation for the secession of the South-East and other areas of the country to form a sovereign state of Biafra.
He confirmed in the statement, dated October 24, 2015, that he made the comments, calling Nigeria a zoo to justify his belief that the only language its people understood was violence in the interview with Sahara Reporters.
He said he also accused Okorocha of Islamising Imo State in the said interview.
Kanu stated, “A Sahara Reporters’ interview was played by officers of the DSS on October 24, 2015, as part of my interrogation and I acknowledged that it was me that gave the interview and the answers I provided were done by me.
“As I have earlier stated in past interrogation, the statements I make are purely designed to elicit reaction that will facilitate the desired change which is needed.
“In the interview, I made reference and said, ‘the zoo has come to an end, they keep killing our people…’.
“In the interview, I also said ‘the language the people hear in the zoo is violence. If they fail to give us Biafra, Somalia will be a child’s play’, yes, I stated that in the interview.
“Again, I was asked (and I said), ‘If they do not give us Biafra, there would be no one living in the zoo,’ yes, I said so.
“I was also asked did I say that Rochas had Islamised Imo State and I said yes. I was also asked to confirm that I said that I do not believe that a peaceful approach to the restoration of Biafra was viable because I am not aware of anywhere else in the world where that is the case considering the history of the countries and their approach to such issues.”
He also denied belonging to Biafra Zionist Movement but admitted he believed in the group’s cause.
“I do not belong to Biafra Zionist Movement. However, I stated my support for its action because it was a civil act designed to highlight societal injustice.
“The said act involved a group of civilians massing at the Government House at Enugu to hoist the Biafran flag,” he added.
The 48-year-old, who re-affirmed himself as the leader of IPOB, also gave an insight into the leadership structure of the group.
He stated, “I wish to state for the records that I, Nnamdi Kanu, is the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Director of Radio Biafra and is in charge of the running of the organisation. In terms of the organisational structure, I can confirm that the office of the Director sits at the apex.”
Kanu said under him was Mazi Udanna Asiegbu.
He added, “Under him (Asiegbu) is the office of the CoC, which translates into the Co-ordinator of Co-ordinators and under him comes the Continental Representatives and are as follows:
“(1) North America is represented by Mr. Nnamaram Ugochukwu; South America, by Leornard Aniemene, who is resident in Trinidad and Tobago. Mazi Asiegbu is resident in Spain and Clifford Iroanya, the Coordinator of Coordinators, is resident in Houston Texas, USA.
“Nnamaram Ugochukwu is resident in Dallas, Texas. The continent of Europe is represented by Mazi Edoziem in Switzerland; Asia continent is represented by Onyinyechi Nlebedim in Malaysia while Australia is represented by Austin Ofomah, who resides in Canberra, Australia.”
Operatives of the DSS on October 14, 2015, arrested Kanu at the Golden Tulip Airport Hotel, where he allegedly checked into using a fictitious name.
On December 23, the accused persons were scheduled for arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja, but Kanu refused to take his plea to the six counts of treason and other charges instituted against him and his two co-defendants due to what he called his lack of confidence in the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
The judge promptly returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge and the three accused persons were returned to the custody of the DSS.
The Federal Government, through the Federal Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Mohammed Diri, alleged in its summary of its case in the newly filed six counts that the IPOB leader checked into the hotel using the name, Ezebuiro Nwannekaenyi, in order to conceal his identity.
Diri stated this in a document listing the proposed prosecution witnesses lined up to testify against Kanu and the two others.
Apart from Kanu, one of the two other defendants in the six counts filed by the Federal Government is a Field Maintenance Engineer, David Nwawuisi, of Ericson, who maintains MTN masts in Enugu State.
The other defendant, Benjamin Madubugwu, was said to be living in Ubilisiuzo, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he allegedly received custody of a container housing radio transmitters meant for Radio Biafra from Kanu.
The fresh charges were filed against the three men barely 24 hours after Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a ruling on Kanu’s bail application on December 17, ordered his unconditional release from DSS custody having been detained for about two months without any valid charges filed against him.
No new date has been fixed for the arraignment of the accused persons.
THE leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra and founder of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed regret for referring to President Muhammadu Buhari as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile in his radio broadcasts.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
Kanu, who has been charged along with two others by the Federal Government before a Federal High Court in Abuja on six counts of treason and other ancillary offences, said he intended to write a private letter to Buhari to express his apology to the President.
He also apologised to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Igbo elders for “some uncomplimentary things” he said about them.
The 48-year-old pro-Biafran agitation leader, who is, however, unapologetic about his demand for a Republic of Biafra, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his arrest in Lagos on October 14, 2015.
He tendered the apology for his comment against Buhari and others in a statement which he made to the DSS on October 23.
The prosecution, in its summary of the case, alleged that in one of the radio broadcasts by Kanu on August 1, 2015, he expressed his resolve to actualise the Republic of Biafra and “cast aspersions on the person and the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
The statement read in part, “Reference to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a terrorist, evil and a paedophile is regrettable and uncalled for and for that, I unreservedly apologise and will be doing so in a private letter to the President.
“Before PMB (President Muhammadu Buhari) there was the administration of Goodluck Jonathan. I also said uncomplimentary things about him and Igbo elders as well, which I now recognise should not have happened because it is un-African to be rude or insolent to elders.
“All I was trying to do is to draw attention to the problems afflicting society and something done about them.”
Kanu, who described himself as a Nigerian and a British citizen, justified his agitation for a Biafra Republic.
He said IPOB’s secessionist agenda was informed by the “incessant hardship, lack of holistic development in the socio-economic landscape of Nigeria, lack of youth employment, corruption in high offices and economic regression.”
He added that the agitation by IPOB, which, according to him, was founded in London in 2012 by a group of people from the South-South and South-East regions of the country, was in line with the United Nations Charter on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ratified by African countries, including Nigeria.
In contrast to the counts of managing and assisting in the management of an unlawful society preferred against Kanu and two others, the Radio Biafra founder stated that IPOB, which the prosecution described as unlawful, was registered with the UN to pursue the rights of the people of Biafra.
He stated, “I can confirm that I, Nnamdi Kanu, is the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra worldwide as a legitimately and duly registered body at the United Nations pursuing the rights of a specific indigenous people, in this case, Biafra, to seek self determination according to the said charter.
“The reason for the formation of the Indigenous People of Biafra is to avail those referring to themselves as Biafrans the opportunity made available as a result of the United Nations declaration to seek the peaceful rebirth of Biafra in line with international law.”
Kanu, who is a son of a traditional ruler in Abia State, Sir I.O. Kanu, said he operated Radio Biafra, whose programmes “are designed to wake up the public from its slumber and address the issues of the time” because of his belief in free speech and freedom of expression.
He explained that the intended Biafra Republic comprised Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states as well the Igbanke part of Edo State; Igala part of Kogi State and Idoma/Igede part of Edo State.
Apart from Kanu, one of the two other defendants in the six counts filed by the Federal Government is a Field Maintenance Engineer, David Nwawuisi, charged with the responsibility of maintaining MTN masts in Enugu State.
The other defendant, Benjamin Madubugwu, was said to be living in the Ubilisiuzo, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he allegedly received custody of a container, housing transmitters, from Kanu.
On December 23 during the accused persons’ appearance in court for their scheduled arraignment, Kanu refused to take his plea due to what he called his lack of confidence in the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
The judge promptly returned the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, for reassignment to another judge and the three accused persons were returned to the custody of the Department of State Services.
The fresh charges were filed against the three men barely 24 hours after Justice Adeniyi Ademola, in a ruling on Kanu’s bail application on December 17, ordered his unconditional release from DSS custody having been detained for about two months without any valid charges filed against him.
The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government had alleged that transmitters for Radio Biafra, spreading secessionist agenda for carving out Biafra region from Nigeria, were found to be installed on MTN masts in Enugu and Anambra states between April and May 2015.
No new date has been fixed for the arraignment of the accused persons.
Delta Pro Biafra declares support for Uwazuruike led BIM
Corruption propels Nigerian politicians to pretend loving Nigeria —Uwazuruike
Rights group condemns police roadblocks, extortion in S’East
By Festus Ahon, Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Nwabueze Okonkwo & Francis Igata
The Federal Government has filled a fresh six-count charge of treason and managing the affairs of ‘an unlawful society,’ against the embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu was charged before the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
MASSOB, IPOB accuse Obiano
Meanwhile, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which were the arrow-heads of the agitation for the release of their detained leader and Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamadi Kanu, have accused Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State of alleged collusion with security operatives to kill, maim its members, who were last week, jubilating over the bail granted their leader by a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Also, pro-Biafra agitators in Delta State, yesterday, declared support for the leader of the Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, describing him as a non violent messiah.
In the fresh charge, the trio were accused of committing treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, when the matter came up before Justice Mohammed, yesterday, neither the prosecuting counsel nor the accused persons were present in court.
However, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor announced appearance for the defendants, even as he queried the seriousness of the Federal Government to prosecute the matter.
Ejiofor insisted that the fresh charge was nothing but a ploy by the government to ensure the continued detention of the accused persons, especially Kanu, who was earlier granted bail by the same high court.
Nevertheless, Justice Mohammed, explained that though the matter was slated in the court’s cause-list for mention, yesterday, he said it was obvious that the prosecution was not notified.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
The judge therefore, adjourned the case, saying a date for the arraignment of the accused persons would be communicated to all the parties.
Meanwhile, there was heavy police presence around the court premises yesterday.
Fresh charge
In the fresh charge, FG, alleged that the three accused persons were the ones managing the affairs of “an unlawful society,” the IPOB.
The charge read, “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown persons, now at large, in London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and September, 2015, with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order to force the President to change his measures of being the President of the Federation, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as defined in Section 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by doing an act to wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra your preparations for the states in the South- East geo-political zone, South-South geo-political zone, the Igala Community of Kogi State and the Idoma/Igede Community of Benue State to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a Republic of Biafra, and thereby committed an offence punish- able under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
It will be recalled that Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the same high court had on December 17, ordered the “unconditional” release of the IPOB leader, Kanu, from the custody of the Department of State Service, DSS.
Kanu who is also the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, was on October 17, arrested in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
Pro-Biafra agitators in Delta State in a communique, meanwhile, at the end of the enlarged meeting of BIM, in Asaba, the state capital, who are from lgbo speaking axis, condemned violent approach to the agitation.
The communiqué by the zonal Leader of the group, Chinedu Amaifeobu, said Uwazuruike’s led BIM shines out among the numerous groups currently processing the crusade for the autonomous state of Biafra.
They frowned at all accusation levelled against Uwazuruike, saying he was the authentic freedom fighter for the agitation.
Also, MASSOB, and IPOB in statement in Enugu yesterday, by MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu said, “We hold Governor Obiano responsible for the killings, arrest, torture, maiming and wounding of non violent, peaceful IPOB,MASSOB members in Ontisha jubilating over the news of Nnamdi Kanu’s court release order.
“Anambra State in Nigeria where members of MASSOB, IPOB demonstrated, protested or jubiliated because of Nnamdi is not the only state in Nigeria. We have not recorded any killings, harassment, massive arrest, clampdown, shootings, torture and unguided statement but only in Anambra State.
“During Obiano’s condolence visit to Hausa residents in Onitsha over the touching of Mosque by sponsored hoodlums, Obiano sympathized with them without mentioning or commiserating with non violence Biafran agitators killed, arrested and tortured by security agents. He tactically supported them to clampdown and disperse non violence MASSOB,IPOB members.
“This executive order prompted and motivated the Army to kill, maim, arrest our members in Ontisha, including those killed on the day of jubilation.”
Meanwhile, leader of BIM, Uwazuruike, yesterday, attributed corruption as a major factor propelling politicians to pretend that all was well in Nigeria, even when the country was in a state of despair.
He decried the level of corruption in high places in government in the country and regretted that Nigeria was the only country in the world where leadership offered political leaders the best opportunity to steal public funds and go scot-free.
Corruption propels Nigerians
In his goodwill message during the end of 2015 BIM security meeting at Mgbago, Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Uwazuruike stated that some politicians were ready to die for one Nigeria only because of the opportunity the country offers them for horrendous stealing, not because Nigeria holds any bright future for their children and children’s children.
Uwazuruike whose message was delivered by BIM’s Deputy National Director for Information, Chris Mocha, expressed concern that Nigeria would continue to have problems because of persistent failure of her leaders to tell masses the truth, stressing that nobody sees himself as a Nigerian.
According to the Biafran leader, “Nigerians see themselves as Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Kataf, Tivs, Ijaws, among others, and that is why the Yoruba sentiment will always protect their own sons who looted Nigerian treasury, that is also why the Arewa sentiment will do the same for any Hausa/Fulani leader who stashed away public money and that is why the Igbo sentiment viewed a call to probe any of their own kinsmen who stole Nigerian money as a witch-hunt.”
He lashed at the leaders for pretending that all was well with Nigeria when indeed the country was burning and emphasized that in Biafra land there will be no room for corruption.
Rights group condemns police road blocks, extortion
Meanwhile, a civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, yesterday raised alarm over what it identified as re-emergence of police roadblocks and high level of extortion from motorists in the South East geo-political zone of the country, accusing the extortionists of using pro-Biafran peaceful protests as a cover.
Intersociety said the return of police roadblock extortion points in June 2015 in Nigeria, as ordered by Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, particularly in the Southeast zone, which reached its peak in October 2015, had further made mockery of the doubtful anti-corruption policy of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In a statement, yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, the group said findings from its recent zonal investigation in the South East, factually disclosed that there were at least 750 police roadblock/ extortion points mounted and maintained by IG led police on federal, state and intercity roads in the zone.
“Of the minimum of 750 police roadblocks/extortion points currently stationed on Southeast soads; there are 200 in Anambra State, followed by Abia State with 200, Imo State with 150 and Enugu and Ebonyi States with 100 each. Of these five states, Anambra and Abia are most illicitly lucrative; owing to their commercial environmental nature. They are followed by Imo, owing to its strategic link between the two states. Enugu and Ebonyi States are lesser owing to their white-collar or civil service environmental nature.”
The statement by its Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi, said “Most of the police roadblock/extortion proceeds from Enugu and Ebonyi States come from highway and inter state road users, particularly users of Enugu-Port Harcourt, Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Nsukka-Oturkpa, Enugu-Abakiliki, Abakiliki-Okigwe and Abakiliki-Ogoja Roads as well as inter-State Roads within the two states.”
A Magistrate Court in Abuja has discharged the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, following the withdrawal of the charges proffered against him by the Department of State Services on Wednesday.
Counsel to the accused, Vincent Obeffa, told Channels Television that with the court’s ruling, the accused has no criminal cases against him in Nigeria or anywhere in the world and as such, he is a free man.
He said all processes to secure his release are currently being cleared.
Mr Kanu was standing trial on a three count charge of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to an unlawful society, allegations the prosecutor had withdrawn.
Meanwhile, ruling on the prosecutor’s application for the matter to be taken up at the Federal High Court, will be delivered on Thursday.
We won’t be part of negotiations to strengthen Nigeria’s unity – BIM
•Kanu must not die in detention like Yusuf – Rights groups
By Francis Igata, Nwabueze Okonkwo & Chimaobi Nwaiwu
ENUGU—The ceasefire declared by the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to give room for a dialogue with the Federal Government appears headed for the rocks.
Biafran Protest over Kanu
The groups are peeved by reports that former governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Senator Goodswill Akpabio led a delegation accompanied by some northern elites on behalf of MASSOB to Federal Government to broker a truce.
Consequently, they said they the only way they would be part of the dialogue is if detained IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu is part of it.
This came as the Chief Ralph Uwazuruike-led Biafra Independent Movement, BIM, dissociated self from any negotiation to strength the unity of Nigeria and vowed to actualize the Republic of Biafra
Meanwhile, a coalition of human rights groups in the South-East zone cautioned the Federal Government against allowing Nnamdi Kanu to be murdered in the captivity of the Department of State Service, DSS, the way deceased leader of Boko Haram sect, Yusuf Mohammed was killed in Police custody.
Also, residents of Onitsha and its environs had appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Nigerian Armed Forces to dismantle the road blocks in Anambra State, which were mounted after the killing of nine people in the state over MASSOB and IPOB protests, citing increasing inhuman treatments meted out to innocent citizens by the military men.
Any dialogue without Nnamdi won’t yield fruits
Speaking on the proposed dialogue, in Enugu, yesteday, MASSOB Director of Information, Edson Samuel, said: “We are shocked that Akpabio, who disowned MASSOB at the inception of this demonstration, led some northern leaders to broker truce on our behalf. We do not know them, neither can we identify with them because any person moving to dialogue between us and Federal Government must first meet with us and know our demands.
“This demonstration is strictly anchored by MASSOB, IPOB and Akpabio, working with his cohort, Dozie Ikedife, have shown hatred for Nnamdi Kanu. We make haste to disown them.
“Ikedife has his own agenda and belief in the constitution of Nigeria, which we do not believe in. MASSOB and Biafra do not have faith in Nigerian constitution. The Nigerian constitution is a complete fraud, that is why we are protesting to opt out. The framers of the constitution never consulted Ndigbo when it was crafted.
On Biafra we stand —BIM
The BIM, a former faction of MASSOB, yesterday, gave reasons it would not be part of any negotiation intended to strengthen Nigeria’s national unity and stability, but rather the one that will ensure the actualization of Biafra.
BIM said it had equally distanced self from the outcome of an emergency meeting in Asaba, Delta State and the one earlier held by the Supreme Elders Council of IPOB at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, Wednesday, December 9, 2015, where they agreed that the recent demonstrations in the Southeast and parts of South-South were agitations for the right to “call ourselves Biafrans within the Nigerian equation.”
In a press statement issued in Onitsha, Anambra State, BIM’s Deputy Director for Information, Mazi Chris Anierobi Mocha, said such discussions ‘’with our oppressors have a sinister motive behind it,’’ adding, “our position is to achieve a separate country with the name and tittle: ‘Republic of Biafra, no more no less.’
Don’t kill Kanu in detention like Yusuf, rights groups tell FG
Cautioning the the government to ensure the safety of Nnamdi Kanu in detention, a coalition of human rights groups based in the South-East zone given the provisions of Section 1 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, Section 27 (1) of the Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011 as amended, Kanu’s detention and investigation by DSS over involvement in terrorism and terrorism financing are illegal.
In a press statement entitled: ‘Before Nnamdi Kanu Is Murdered In DSS Captivity & Goes The Way of Yusuf Mohammed,’ the coalition further noted that by Section 35 (4) (a) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (right to personal liberty); the same Section 27 (1) of Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011 as amended (detention of accused citizen for 90 days and above or perpetual pre-trial detention), is also null and void.
Signed by its senior activist, Emeka Umeagbalasi, the coalition in the statement noted that the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s landmark verdict in: Abacha and Others vs Fawehinmi (2001) AHRLR 172 (NgSC 2000); on the supremacy of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, ACHPR, over ordinary legislations in Nigeria, Section 27 (1) of Terrorism Prevention Act of 2011 as amended; is expressly ultra vires, illegal and illegitimate.
The coalition comprises the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Anambra State Branch of the Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, Centre for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy, CHRPA, Human Rights Club, HRC, (a project of LRRDC), Southeast Good Governance Forum, SGGF, Forum for Equity, Justice & Defence of Human Rights, FEJDHR, Society Advocacy Watch Project, SPAW, Anambra Human Rights Forum, AHRF, International Solidarity, INTERSOLIDARITY, for Peace & Human Rights Initiative, Street Law Africa, LawAfrica, and Igbo Ekunie Initiative, IEI, (a pan-Igbo rights campaigner).
Inhuman treatment: Onitsha residents, CD seek dismanantleing of military points in Anambra
Residents of Onitsha and its environs have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Nigerian Armed Forces to dismantle military road blocks in Anambra State erected on account of the pro-Biafra protests
Speaking with Vanguard, Mr. Chinonso Ukaegbu, a trader said that normalcy had returned to the commercial city of Onitsha and its environs and there was no need for the joint military task force operations in the state.
“The IPOB and MASSOB activists are no more protesting in the state. They have also announced the suspension of their protests, and Onitsha is back to normalcy.Why should the people be subjected to dehumanizing act of raising our hands or running past the check points irrespective of age and status?” he said.
The Campaign for Democracy also made similar call, saying that there was no war or tension in Anambra State and therefore, people should not be subjected to dehumanizing situations where they had to raise their hands from three poles to the check points mounted by the Army and the Police.
Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has urged the Federal Government to employ more diplomacy in handling the agitation for the Republic of Biafra.
Watch And Pray, Watch And Prey By Wole Soyinka
Soyinka said statements like “Nigeria is indivisible”, “This won’t happen under my watch,” “Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable” would not help matters.
The Nobel laureate spoke in an interview on Channels Television programme, Channels Books’ Club.
Agitation for the Republic of Biafra gained more traction recently following the arrest of Director of outlawed Biafra Radio,Nnamdi Kanu.
The protesters had taken over the Niger Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State blocking traffic and it took the intervention of security agents before they could be dislodged, leaving some persons dead in its wake.
Soyinka asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approach the agitation in a more diplomatic way, pointing out that he had said earlier that Biafra cannot be defeated.
According to him, ”Once an idea has taken off, you may defeat those behind it in a war but that does not mean the end of the idea.”
But he lamented that he had been misunderstood at the time.
He said the attitude of the government should be to sit down with the those leading the renewed agitation and ask: “What can we do to make the Igbo feel part of the country, what can we do to make them to feel that they belong and not alienated.
“This is what we are ready to push for in the overall governance content of the country. It is not to be carrying on that this will not happen under my watch; Nigeria is indivisible, Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable, he stated”
Hundreds of agitators for the creation of Biafra Republic, yesterday, besieged an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2, demanding the unconditional release of the self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
The placard carrying protesters, who wore T-shirts and caps with inscriptions like “Biafra Now or Never”, “Buhari Release Kanu For Us”, “On Biafra We Stand”, yesterday, sang and danced outside the court premises, while hearing was going on in the criminal case that was entered against Kanu by the federal government.
Meantime, following an order of the court, the Department of State Security, DSS, yesterday, produced the detained Director of Radio Biafra and Television, Kanu.
Chief Magistrate Shauibu Usman had at the last adjourned date, berated the DSS over its failure to produce Kanu in court on two consecutive times the matter came up before the court.
Magistrate Usman said he was disappointed that the security agency refused to produce Kanu despite an express order of the court.
Consequently, he directed that the accused person must be brought before the court yesterday.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing on the matter yesterday, Kanu, who the government accused of engaging in criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society, as well as indulging in criminal intimidation, contrary to section 97 (a)&(b) and section 397 of the Penal Code, begged to be transferred to prison custody.
His lawyer, Mr. Vincent Egechukwu Obeta, insisted that transferring his client to prison would enable him to have easy access to his legal team.
Obeta made the application shortly after the DSS, yesterday, urged the Magistrate Court to hands-off Kanu’s trial.
The DSS, through its lawyer, Mr Moses Idakwo, told the court that it has already secured an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja to further detain Kanu for another 90 days.
It said that the order which was granted by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, was to enable the government to conclude investigation into an allegation that Kanu was involved in terrorism financing.
Consequently, the DSS, yesterday, applied to withdraw the initial First Information Report, FIR, it lodged against Kanu before the Chief Magistrate Court.
The agency maintained that the government would file a fresh charge against Kanu before a higher court, once its ongoing investigation is concluded.
Idakwo therefore asked Magistrate Usman to step down from the trial on the ground that his court lacks the power and jurisdiction to prosecute terrorism charges.
The application was vehemently opposed by Kanu’s lawyer Obeta, who insisted that the bail earlier granted the accused person must firstly be complied with before any application for transfer of the case to a federal high court could be entertained.
After listening to both parties, Magistrate Usman adjourned the case till December 1 for ruling.
Kanu who was brought to court yesterday under heavy security, was on October 17, picked up in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
Biafran Protest over Kanu
He had On October 19, pleaded not guilty to the FIR that was filed against him by the Nigerian government, and was subsequently granted him bail to the tune of N2million.
The court further directed the defendant to produce a civil servant of Grade Level 16, to stand as his surety.
However, following allegation that the DSS, refused to release the accused person after he had perfected the bail conditions, the Magistrate, in a ruling on October 23, ordered that he should be brought to court on November 18, an order that was not complied with.
Magistrate Usman insisted that no trial could continue in a criminal case in the absence of the accused, saying the only condition that could make a court to excuse the absence of an accused had not arisen.
He therefore ordered the DSS to ensure the presence of the defendant in court yesterday.
Specifically, Kanu, is standing trial on criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society and criminal intimidation contrary to Section 97, 97B and 397 of the penal code.
The fact of the case, according to DSS report was that the accused formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.
He was alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established a radio of Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences of the government and people of Nigeria will surfer should they attempt hinder the actualization of the Republic of Biafra.
IPOB members ground vehicular movements
In the South East states, the agitation for the release of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal Government continued yesterday as members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, numbering over 15,000, dared the military and protested in Onitsha the commercial city of Anambra State, marching in over 18 batches of about two thousand people per batch, and grounding vehicular movements in the ever busy Onitsha Enugu express way for over one and half hours.
Known for their peaceful and non violence agitation, the protesting IPOB members marched from Niger Bridge head entry into Anambra State, where the plaque of former Biafran warlord, late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu was built, to Naval outpost, Atani Road Ogbaru Local Government Area, and back to Uga Junction, where they again joined the Onitsha, Asaba Enugu Express way, down to Upper Iweka flyover.
At the Upper Iweka flyover bridge, they danced for about 30minutes and grounded vehicular movements before their leaders directed that they should allow the vehicles to move but slowly.
Wielding placards with inscriptions as “Nigeria is a lawless land, and a terrorist state,” “Biafra is a Nation not a society,” “Free innocent man, Nnamdi Kanu or there will be no peace” “Freeinnocent man Nnamdi Kanu, he did not do anything wrong”, “No Biafra no peace”, including others derogatory inscriptions on their placards against the government, the protesting IPOB members marched towards Zik’s roundabout and military cantonment Onitsha.
On their march towards Zik’s roundabout, they stopped in front of the Onitsha military cantonment along the Onitsha Enugu Express way, danced for about 20 minutes, chanting anti Federal and Anambra state government and military songs, demanding for the release of the incarcerated Kanu who they warn that if anything happens to him, they will make Nigeria ungovernable, before they left for Ziks Roundabout.
At Ziks roundabout named after the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, which is incidentally directly opposite the Onosi Onira retreat, home of the late first Nigerian president, they stopped and paid homage to Ziks plaque built at the roundabout, and addressed newsmen.
According to their spokesmen, who gave his name as Emma Powerful and Sunday Igbokaenyi, from Okija, IPOB wondered why Mr. Kanu should still be in detention after the court has granted him bail, they alleged that ban has been place on all the imported goods the Igbo are major importers to humilate them, adding that IPOB is a non violent group and should not be treated like criminals, when Federal Government is petting the Boko Haram members.
While Mr. Powerful said their protest is in continuation of their agitation for the Sovereign State of Biafra and release of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and to tell the Federal Government that no amount of threat from the Military will stop them until their objectives are achieved.
Hoist Kanu’s portraits, Biafra emblems in Aba
While the Onitsha protest was still ongoing, over 20,000 members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, also yesterday embarked on another protest march in Aba, Abia state, where they hoisted Biafra emblems and Nnamdi Kanu’s portraits across billboards and other high-rise structures across the city.
As the protesters grew in number, it was a major difference from past protests as all the markets in the city including the Ariaria International, Cemetery and Ahia Ohuu markets were open for business. Vanguard observed that shop owners along Azikiwe road hurriedly shut their shops to avoid the wrath of the protesters.
Recall that the Police in Aba led by the Area Commander, ACP Peter Wagbara, had last week, went round the city and removed Biafra emblems mounted at strategic points and high rise
THE leadership of a faction for the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, weekend, alleged that Nnamdi Kanu, the promoter of Radio Biafra, detained by security operatives, may have been murdered.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
In a statement in Abakaliki, MASSOB factional Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, stated that information about Kanu’s murder was made available to the group through some security operatives sympathetic to the Biafran cause.
“Factional MASSOB has discovered that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu detained by Nigeria has been murdered in Abuja,”Madu said.
“Information to Biafra Intelligence Agency (BIA), through operatives sympathetic to the Biafran cause revealed it to us. Pro. Biafran groups may not believe it until Monday, Nov 23 when Nnamdi will be arraign in court.
“The cause information we are receiving from Abuja is not healthy, we’re still waiting till Monday. Nnamdi Kanu is the arrowhead of the Biafra agitation. Nigeria should be extremely careful on Nnamdi Kanu”.
“If government extra judicially kills Nnamdi Kanu, Nigeria will experience the worst volcanic rebellion and aggression.
“We call on the Ohaneze Ndigbo, South East Govs, Igbo leaders of thought, South-East and South-South Professionals, Igbo National Assembly members, traditional /religious leaders to call Nigeria’s Presidency to order now.
“We demand that Nnamdi Kanu must appear in court on Monday, Nov 23 alive or dead. We love non-violence & wish to maintain it but Nigeria is pushing Biafrans to the wall”.
Two lawyers, Ezechukwu Obete and Gabriel Ebule, battled each other for the right to represent the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, when the Federal Government’s case against him came up before a Magistrate’s Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Wednesday.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
Both lawyers flaunted different letters appointing them to defend the accused person.
Kanu was on October 19, 2015 arraigned on charges of criminal conspiracy, managing and belonging to an unlawful society as well as criminal intimidation, offences said to be contrary to sections 97 and 397 of the Penal Code.
The accused was not present in court on Wednesday but a number of his supporters were seen in the court premises throughout the period the proceedings lasted.
However, the dispute between the two lawyers over his legal representation made the presiding Chief Magistrate, Shuaibu Usman, to order the Department of State Services to produce him on Monday to enable him to identify his desired counsel.
Prosecuting counsel, Mr. Moses Idakwo, said the DSS did not produce the accused in court on Wednesday because the court’s business for the day was for the hearing of an application by the accused challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the charges preferred against him.
But the magistrate reminded the prosecutor that he had on October 23, 2015 ordered that the accused person must always be present in court each time the matter came up regardless of what the proceedings were about.
He said the criminal proceedings could not continue in the absence of the accused person.
Usman, therefore, ordered the prosecutor to unfailingly produce the accused before the court on November 23, 2015.
Ebule, who first announced his appearance for the accused person on Wednesday, had informed the court that he represented the accused person on October 19, 2015 when he was arraigned.
Ebule produced a letter which he said was written by the wife of the accused person appointing him as the defence lawyer.
The prosecutor had also confirmed that the notice of preliminary objection scheduled for hearing on Wednesday was served on him by Ebule.
Obete, on his part, produced two letters one of which he said was written by the Indigenous People of Biafra, and signed by an official of the group, Alphonsus Mefor, appointing him as lawyer.
The second letter produced by Obete which he said appointed him to defend the accused was said to be dated October 16 and written by the father of the accused person, and the traditional ruler of Afara-Ukwu community in Abia State.
Obete, who said he was based in Enugu, noting that Ebule only capitalised on his absence from the previous proceedings.
He said he arrived in Abuja late on the day of the previous proceedings because he got the notice late.
The presiding magistrate recalled that the accused did not have any lawyer to represent him on the day he was arraigned on October 19.
He added that Ebule only volunteered to defend him (Kanu) after he inquired and confirmed that he had no counsel in court.
The magistrate then directed that the accused would be made to identify his desired lawyer on Monday.
The charges against the accused included an allegation that he formed an unlawful society with the purpose of bringing into being a Republic of Biafra.
He was also alleged to have proclaimed himself as the leader of the Republic of Biafra and established the Radio Biafra.
Kanu was also alleged to have appointed himself the Commander of the Loyal Forces of Biafra and was broadcasting to the whole world the dire consequences the government and people of Nigeria would surfer should they attempt to hinder the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra.
In what motorists and other road users have described as a mother of all protests, supporters of the Director of Radio Biafra and leader of the indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, grounded commercial and vehicular activities in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State, in a bid to call for the immediate release of their leader, who is still reportedly being detained by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Biafran fear dead
Motorists and commuters who were said to be leaving and entering the south-east, through the River Niger Bridge, in Onitsha, this morning, were held to standstill for over six hours, as members of IPOB in their thousands, barricaded the entry and exit routes of the Head Bridge.
An eye witness, Mr. Kelechi Amaeze, who was travelling from the south-east to Lagos on Friday, told Vanguard in a phone interview that thousands of travellers, including himself, were held to standstill at the Onitsha head-bridge owing to the protest, which members of IPOB had tagged, “One Million Match.”
Another eye-witness, who pleaded not to be named, told Vanguard that the IPOB protesters where already taking their demonstration into Asaba, the Delta State capital, but where stopped by security operatives in the state, who had already re-mobilised on getting a tip-off of the protest.
Vanguard gathered that the armed-to-the-teeth security operatives barricaded the exit point of the Head Bridge into Asaba with an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, to stop the irate protesters from gaining entry into the south-south region.
However, Vanguard gathered from an eye-witness that the protest which also reached the Ochanja area of Onitsha, saw one of the protesters allegedly shot dead by an accidental discharge from the shots of a soldier, in a bid to quell the raging protest.
Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, it was not certain if the irate youths took their protests to other parts of the country.
The arrest and continued detention of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu – the operator and Director of now famous Radio Biafra – by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is, to say the least, one ignominious show of lack of good understanding of the values, tenets, practices and principles of democracy and/or democratic governance on the part
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
of the person of Muhammadu Buhari – which is a complete negation of and clear departure from the dictates of the same system which avails him the rare opportunity of junketing around the world to be pontificating about democracy, freedom of all sorts, self-determination and all that jazz (yet these are all virtues he does not respect at the home front). And this whole thing about the continued incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu and General Buhari’s false democratic disposition is increasingly becoming worrisome considering the apparent quiet which has of late engulfed the activities of the civil societies in Nigeria and those of the elements who are wont to parade themselves as human rights activists and representatives of foreign Non- Government Organization operating in Nigeria. Little wonder that Muhammadu Buhari-led government is currently and perniciously building up a new brand of impunity which for now seems not to matter or constitute a grave threat to the lives and interests of all those who in no time, but sooner than later, will take up the gauntlet in a bid to contain his (Buhari’s) dangerously developing excesses.
Arguably, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu is being accused by the Buhari-led government of using the medium of Radio Biafra to be mobilizing the people of South-East, and perhaps the South-South, geo-political region of Nigeria for the burgeoning clamour for separation or independence from the mere “geographical expression” called Nigeria. This, among other accusations, is perceived to be the ostensible reason for the unlawful and continued incarceration of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu without trial or conviction. And like Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Kanu has become a prisoner of conscience.
Incidentally, Kanu’s tormentors – apparently led by President Muhammadu Buhari – believe that what he allegedly does with the Radio Biafra in the Diaspora or perhaps in the United Kingdom where the station is reportedly registered and licensed to operate, amounts to an offence in Nigeria. Though it still boggles one’s mind what that actual offence is which the Federal government has reportedly and covertly charged Nnamdi Kanu with before a magistrate court at Wuse in Abuja and following which he was reportedly granted bail, yet the Buhari-led government sees no sense or wisdom in abiding by the common principles of the rule of law and/or in respecting the basic provisions of both our municipal laws (as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended) and those of the International laws as contained in charters, treaties, etc, on the fundamental human rights of peoples demanding for self-determination, all of which the Nigeria state is a key signatory to.
Now come to think of it, granted that the Radio Biafra is registered and/or licensed to operate in the United Kingdom and in which case its operator – Nnamdi Kanu – implicitly pays tax for it and other dues that inhere in such operation and as and when due, the question that follows is: who then is to be held responsible by Buhari-led government between Nnamdi Kanu and the relevant British regulatory authorities for whatever content being aired by the Radio Biafra? Again, given that the relevant British authorities so far have not seen or found good cause to either withdraw the license or permission given for the operation of the Radio Biafra in whatever form or deemed its content harmful, threatening or outrageous to either a section of mankind or humanity in general, contrary to the unnecessary alarm and fear being raised by a section of media in Nigeria, what then is the actual offence for sake of which Nnamdi Kanu is being tormented and incarcerated by Muhammadu Buhari government?
Biafran Protest over Kanu
Moreover, if indeed President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is scared and deeply concerned about the messages and the general content being aired on the Radio Biafra from outside Nigeria, then what on earth for goodness sake stops this President of the so-called giant of African from effectively exploring and employing all diplomatic and technological means possible in combating the challenges posed by the existence of this pirate radio station, rather than merely chasing shadows by descending on Nnamdi Kanu in the false belief that this is one way of suppressing the unabated, ubiquitous and strong demand for the independence of the Republic of Biafra, out of Nigeria?
Funny enough, the same President Muhammadu Buhari who now takes delight in tormenting Nnamdi Kanu in the DSS dungeon – simply because he is an Igbo demanding publicly that his people be granted independence from this mere “geographical expression” called Nigeria – had recently demanded that “the Palestinian people and those of the Western Sahara” be obliged their legitimate demands for self-determination to the United Nations, forthwith.
While delivering his speech on 28th September, 2015, during the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, President Muhammadu Buhari had enthused before the world leaders that: “As we engage in these annual debates, we need remind ourselves of the principles that led to the founding of the United Nations. Among those are peaceful co-existence and self-determination of peoples. In the context, Mr. President, the unresolved question of self-determination for the Palestinian people and those of Western Sahara, both nations as qualifying for this inalienable right must now be assured and fulfilled without any further delay or obstacle”.
Of course, these are the exact words of President Muhammadu Buhari at the recently concluded United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York, USA. Yet this is the same man back at home, contradicting in reality the same gospel he felt comfortable preaching to other people in New York. And here we are with the same President Muhammadu Buhari who will not stop at anything in suppressing the Igbo who obviously share similar fate with the people of Palestine in terms of their common demands for autonomy; a President who has elected himself as the new spokesman for the Palestinians at the international arena.
What is more, it is quite provocative and excruciatingly disturbing that even President Muhammadu Buhari clearly has no illusions about the gross immorality and sheer wickedness associated with not just his continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu in the DSS dungeon, but equally his apparent use of the security apparatchiks to harass, intimidate and even to kill members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and their MASSOB brethren. And nothing speaks volumes about this deliberate, wicked and deplorable attitude towards these armless self-determination agitation groups than Buhari’s instructive remark to the UN General Assembly session to the effect that “neither do we have the moral right to deny any people their freedom or condemn them indefinitely to occupation and blockade”. Conversely, this is exactly the same right that President Muhammadu Buhari is desperately striving to establish for himself here with the intent to wield it against the Igbo and other folks who share in the cause of the ongoing clamour for an independent Biafra.
Today, having been pushed to the wall by the Hauas-Fulani herdsmen with their novel wave of kidnap terror and other associated atrocities being launched in Yoruba land, the Yoruba folks are thus impelled to begin to bemoan and rethink their partnership in the Lugardian project called Nigeria. Not surprisingly, therefore, the Yoruba are now threatening to pull out of Nigeria in the face of the rising tide of the Hausa-Fulani (herdsmen) malaise and sundry other ugly trends unfolding under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari. In other words, the Yoruba too appear to be weary of the project called Nigeria and are now inclined to express it as evidenced in their latest secessionist threat which is somewhat comparable with the ongoing agitation for a Republic of Biafra (?). Yet, President Muhammadu Buhari only views Nnamdi Kanu, because he is an Igbo, as a genuine threat to be dealt with over the same agitation for self-determination (?).
Anyway, it is high time all Nigerians and, especially, members of the international community began to impress it on President Muhammadu Buhari to not only release Mr. Nnamdi Kanu before anything ill befalls him in the DSS dungeon, but also to leave him alone henceforth bearing in mind that he (Mr. Kanu) and his ilk are merely exercising their “inalienable right” to demand for self-determination like the Palestinians whose cause and demand for self-determination did receive a tremendous fillip from Mr. Muhammadu Buhari before the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Needless to remind Mr. President, at this juncture, that what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
Igbo leaders appear divided over the government move against Radio Biafra Director,Nnamdi Kanu Nnamdi’s lawyer,Mr. Egechukwu Obetta, told Sunday Vanguard on the phone, last Wednesday, that the DSS has not granted him access to his client who is also the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,IPOD, despite a court order allowing him access to his lawyer and physician.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
The magistrate court before which he was arraigned had granted Kanu bail last Monday in the sum of N2 million with a surety (civil servant) of grade level 16 in like sum.
President General, apex Igbo socio-cultural group,Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, when contacted on the phone,declined comments on the self-determination movement, saying, “I am at the airport on my way to South-Africa. The issue is a very sensitive one. I do not want to make casual statements on it. I will be back next week”.
A former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo,Chief Nduka Eya, echoed the same sentiment to Sunday Vanguard.
Eya said: “The young people who were born after and during the civil war do not know the history of Nigeria. The civil war between Nigeria and Biafra ended in 1970. We are now a sovereign state of Nigeria.
“But there is nothing wrong if a group agitates for a state but you cannot do so by confrontation in a sovereign state of Nigeria. It is treason. Biafra ended with the civil war in 1970. The Federal Government should detain and charge him(Nnamdi) for treason. I am an Igbo man and a Nigerian. You cannot be agitating for a state within Nigeria adopting confrontation.
“When the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB,Chief Ralph Uwazuruike’s mother died,I was then the Secretary General of Onahaeze and pleaded for his release from detention to enable him bury his mother.
“I was among a private delegation, led by the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije, to Uwazuruike. We told Uwazuruike that `you cannot be talking of a sovereign Biafra inside a sovereign Nigeria’. Nnamdi should be charged for treason but his undue detention without charge cannot be supported.”
Another pan-Igbo group,Enugu Unity Forum,EUF,frowned at any move to secede without employing constitutional means, adding that such confrontation will amount to treason.
President,EUF,Chief Tahil Ochil, said, “The law should take its course. It is not a criminal case and as such is bailable. He should not be detained more than the law prescribes. The Biafra struggle should not be confrontational. They should follow the dictates of the law. They should look at how Sudan broke up. As an Igbo man,I will be part of struggle if it is done constitutionally. But if it is done by force,I cannot be part of it.
“The Nigerian government should look at why agitations are rife from the North to South-west and South-south/South-east. They should go back to the National Conference report which addressed these issues that trigger ethnic unrest. Apart from Biafra,the Yoruba, through Odua people, are calling for their our state. The Boko-Haram issue in the North is a call by the northerners for secession. The Federal Government should implement the Confab report which addressed the injustices plaguing the nation.”
residents in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State have taken to the street to protest the arrest of the controversial Director of Radio Biafra, Nanmdi Kanu.
Kanu was reportedly arrested by the Department of State Services at Golden Tulip Hotel and was granted bail by the Abuja Municipal Council Magistrate court.
According to report, the police have been unable to stop the protest which started at Port Harcourt-Aba road.
The protest has also led to heavy traffic for motorists.
The Department of State Security (DSS) monday released the Director, Radio Biafra and Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested at the Golden Tulip Essential Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
Nanmdi Kanu, Radio Biafra’s Director
Kanu, who was arrested on Friday last week, was said to have been released on bail to his lawyer.
Although the bail fee was reportedly fixed at N2 million, as at press time, Kanu was yet to have met the bail conditions, which included getting a civil servant on grade16 to be his surety.
According to reports, his lawyer, Mr. Egechukwu Obetta, had decried the fact that his client was arrested for airing his opinion on seccession.
Attempts to confirm his release from the DSS spokesperson at the Lagos State Command last night, proved abortive as his two phones were switched off.
However, THISDAY had earlier gathered that Kanu was arrested following an alleged threat-filled interview he granted recently.
A senior DSS official who asked not to be named, said Kanu was arrested based on the violent undertone of an interview he recently granted journalists.
He said: “Prior to his arrest, he was not under our radar. In fact, he did not exist. However, that was to change after our attention was drawn to the interview he granted one medium.
“In that interview, he made so many threats that would jeopardise the sovereignty of Nigeria if he is allowed to actualise them.
“He also threatened to burn down Nigeria if Biafra is not allowed to secede. The violent undertone of his interview gave us cause for concern and so we picked him up.”
THISDAY also gathered that some of the events that led to his eventual arrest were painstaking intelligence gathering and covert surveillance on Kanu.
According to the source, they had mounted surveillance on him and had alerted the necessary persons, thus making it easier for them to arrest him from where he lodged.
He said: “Before we arrested him, we did our homework. So when our intelligence network signalled that he was around, we simply waited and picked him up.”
He also said measures are ongoing to ferret out information about the sponsors of the group, in a bid to round them up.
He said: “After our questioning, we will go after their sponsors because it’s not possible for this young man to be the brain behind this group. When we get the sponsors, we have gotten the group.”
Also, another senior official who craved anonymity said: “The operation was carried out on a need-to-know basis. So not all operatives were in the know because we wanted a tight and smooth execution.
“After he was picked up, his girlfriend came to the command but he was not released to her. We kept him for questioning.
“Investigations are ongoing and we would not want to jeopardise it, but note that if he is innocent, he would be released after our questioning but if not, he would be made to face the law.”
