Nnamdi Kanu
hehehehe.....United
Kingdom returnee, Nnamdi Kanu has attacked the Acting President,
Osinbajo over his comments on the Biafra cause which is threatening the
unity of Nigeria.
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu,
on Wednesday, tackled the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for
declaring the Biafran agitation as unconstitutional.
Kanu, in a world press conference he held through his team of
lawyers in Abuja, maintained that Osinbajo’s view about Biafra was “patently misconceived and inherently faulty”,
despite his rank as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In a statement signed
by his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu, insisted that “extra judicial remarks”
Osinbajo made before the Igbo Council of Traditional Rulers, in
reference to Biafran agitation, was offensive to section 2 of the 1999
constitution, as amended.
The statement read in part: “We are presently drifting into the
narrative that had hitherto kept our client in unlawful incarceration
for 18 months, in clear breach of positive orders of court that directed
for his unconditional release. Unhealthy interference by the Executive
Arm in the matter before the Court, vide pronouncements capable of
putting fears in the court is a case in point.
“This is evident in the recent extra judicial remarks by the
Acting President, clearly contained in his presentation before the Igbo
Council of Traditional Rulers, that the agitation for Biafra is
unconstitutional as it offends section 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, 2011, and consequent threat of
arrest and imprisonment of those that exercise their unquestionable and
inalienable rights to self determination.
“This declaration is respectfully considered as not only
provocative, and unacceptable, but a clear case of undue interference
with judicial process, which have the capacity of distorting the mindset
of the Judicial Officer seized of our client’s case.
“It is important to remind the Acting President that our
client’s present political trial originated from his legitimate exercise
of his constitutionally guaranteed rights to self determination as
clearly provided for under extant laws, and international
instruments/covenants.
“It is therefore reasonably expected that any of such extra
judicial remarks, should not emanate from the revered office of the
Acting President. “With due reverence to the Acting President, and his
rank as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we deem it obligatory to state the
correct position of the law as it relates to his faulty position.
“We observed most respectfully that the learned silk made this
remark in direct response to Quit Notice threats and ultimatum handed
down to Igbos living in the Northern part of the counter, by a faceless
and uninformed group, going by the name of Arewa Youths Consultative
Forum.
“But it most be noted very humbly that it is a mistake to
equate the lawful and legitimate aspirations and agitations for Biafra
with the lawful, illegal and illegitimate Quit Notice, and threat given
to the Igbo People to leave the North by this group.
“We submit most humbly that the right to self determination,
recognizable under various instruments which Nigeria is a State Party is
clearly provided for under Article 20(1) of the African Charter on
Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) ( Act Cap 10)
Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.
“This law provides thus: Article 20 (1) ‘All Peoples shall
have right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and
inalienable rights to self determination.
They shall freely determine their political status and shall
pursue their economic and social development according to the policy
they have freely chosen’.
“The above law has been in force in our jurisdiction since 1990
having been ratified vide Ratification and Enforcement Act, Laws of
Federation. It is our respectful view that the declaration by the Acting
President that Biafran agitation is unconstitutional, is with due
respect patently misconceived and inherently faulty.
“It is on this note that we most respectfully call on the
Acting President to be more circumspect in his further remarks as it
relates to a substantive charge before the court.
There is need for total restraint, from comments, pronouncements
and declarations that have the effect of distorting the pendulum, one
way or the other, particularly on this phantom criminal charge”.
Besides, Ejiofor who briefed newsmen alongside counsel to Kanu’s
co-defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi
and Bright Chimezie, accused the federal government of deliberately
stalling frustrating full-blown hearing on the treasonable felony charge
against the defendants.
According to him, rather than to open its case on June 22, FG,
served an amended five-count charge on the defendants, “in clear breach
and violation of an order the court made on April 25, 2017, wherein his
Lordship warned, that the court will not entertain further interlocutory
application or process capable of delaying the trial”.
He alleged that FG joined the 5th defendant, Chimezie, in the case
after a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had on May 24, not
only ordered the Department of State Service to release him forthwith,
but equally directed that he should be paid N5million as damages for his
illegal detention.
Consequently, Kanu and his co-defendants, demanded an immediate
withdrawal of the amended five-count charge against them, saying they
have not committed any offence that is known to law.
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