We visited our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today, being the 21st day of August, 2023, to brief him of an important development in his appeal before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and to discuss other matters of compelling concerns.
Onyendu was briefed of the new twist in the already scheduled date for the Hearing of the pending appeals before the Supreme Court; and to which he directed us to make the following statements:
1. Why is the Federal Government of a country of over 200 million people, afraid of one man's case? A Federal Government that has all the security apparatus at its disposal; a Federal Government which invaded Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's house in Afaraukwu Ibeku and killed over 28 innocent civilians; a Federal Government that criminally abducted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned him to Nigeria. What exactly are they afraid of?
2. That he, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, strongly believes that the Federal Government's appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal which discharged him and prohibited his further trial and detention, will not be heard, because the Federal Government intends to illegally detain him indefinitely.
3. There is presently no charge pending before any Court against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Yet, he is still being detained based on an unprecedented Order of Stay of Execution, in total disregard to his constitutionally guaranteed right to personal liberty.
4. Where in the world, has it ever happened that the Court discharged a person, ordered for his unconditional release, prohibited his further detention and trial, yet, that person is still being held in solitary confinement?
5. That he, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is only exercising his right to self-determination, a globally recognised right, which is also provided for in the Nigerian Constitution and other International Conventions and Treaties which Nigeria is signatory to. Whether the Appeal is heard today, or not, the truth remains unchanging – Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not committed any offence known to law, if he had, the Federal Government would not be afraid of prosecuting their own case.
6. Ezigbo UmuChineke should read Psalms 82 daily, because God has truly shown that he- Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not guilty of any offence, neither has he committed any offence known to law. On the contrary, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has repeatedly and unconscionably wronged him, by:
a) Firstly, the FGN invaded his ancestral home in Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State in September 2017, forcing him to flee for his life. His parents never recovered from that terrible and traumatic experience and consequently died. May their gentle souls continue to rest in peace.
b) The FGN pursued him to Kenya and criminally abducted him, tortured him and extraordinarily renditioned him to Nigeria. The Court of Appeal discharged him, ordered for his unconditional release, and further prohibited his further detention and trial. Yet, the FGN has refused to release him after almost a year after the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on 13th October 2022.
C) The FGN is also preventing and/or frustrating the expeditious Hearing of the Appeal they lodged against the Court of Appeal's judgment before the Supreme Court.
7. The intention of the FGN is for our people to revolt, so that their lawless and untrained security agents will invade Biafra land and massacre and abduct innocent people. Hence, Onyendu urged Ezigbo UmuChineke not to take the bait and fall prey to this sinister agenda.
8. It is now clear that it is the same people who are responsible for the insecurity in our land, that are doing everything within their powers to ensure that the Appeal is not heard expeditiously.
9. If the FGN is not afraid and have nothing to hide, they should ensure that their Appeal is heard as soon as yesterday.
10. That the ordeal Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is presently passing through, is a reflection and confirmation of the inherent hatred and disdain the Nigerian State has against Biafrans, which is the reason why Mazi Nnamdi Kanu embarked on this tortuous journey for the self-determination and emancipation of Biafrans.
11. The air conditioner (AC) unit in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's cell is an espionage AC with gadgets hidden inside it. This is largely responsible for the ear problem he is presently experiencing, which is further worsened by the beatings and severe torture he was subjected to in Kenya before his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria.
12. Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu consequently directed that we should request for the inspection of his cell by a Magistrate, in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
13. That he, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wishes to respectfully draw the attention of the Lord Justices of the Supreme Court to the provisions of Supreme Court Practice Directions 2013 (Criminal Appeals), which is intended to eliminate unnecessary delay in the hearing of criminal appeals. It is even more so in the instant case, where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is now being detained in an unprecedented manner after he had been freed by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court is respectfully urged to stand on the provisions of its Practice Directions, to fix a date for the expeditious Hearing of the Federal Government's Appeal against his freedom and liberty.
14. It is indeed unfortunate that because of one man, Nigeria is destroying all the safeguards contained in her laws, because of the selfish desire to detain Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, illegally.
15. Sadly, the Government now determines who is guilty and no longer the Courts. The sanctity of judicial pronouncements has been destroyed because of the inordinate desire to punish one man.
Indeed, there was a country!
Other professional briefings with Onyendu on other legal undertakings shall remain private with the circumstance of this update.
Thank you all, Ezigbo UmuChineke, and remain blessed.
We move!
Signed:
Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq. (KSC)
IPOB’s Lead Counsel
21st August, 2023.