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Tag: Nnamdi Kanu

  • Uwazuruike hits Southeast Govs, Senators for politicising Kanu’s possible release

    Uwazuruike hits Southeast Govs, Senators for politicising Kanu’s possible release

    Leader of Biafra Independence Movement Chief Ralph Uwazuruike has faulted how Southeast Governors and  Senators have been politicising possible of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu. 

    Uwazuruike, who is the founder of Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra(MASSOB), said even President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not have the absolute powers to order Kanu’s immediate release without seeking advice from the National Security Adviser (NSA). 

    In a statement on Saturday by the group’s Director of Information, Mazi Chris Mocha, Uwazuruike said:  ”it was not the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, who is a  government lawyer  or  the President  who is the Commander -in -Chief  of the Armed Forces is holding Kanu  but the Security Chiefs.”

    Rather than meet the Service Chiefs including the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Chief  of Naval Staff,  Chief of Air  Staff and Chief of  Defence  Staff, Uwazuruike faulted the approach being taken by the  Governors and Senators from the zone. 

    Read Also: Nnamdi Kanu ready to abide by ‘any condition’ to get freedom

    He advised the Governors from the region to meet the NSA with convincing security report on why Kanu should be freed. 

    He stated that rather than meeting the NSA, who usually advises  the President based on available security reports, the Governors and Senators were busy hobnobbing in Abuja taking photographs and claiming to be  working for  his possible release without following the proper procedures.

  • Nnamdi Kanu ready to abide by ‘any condition’ to get freedom

    Nnamdi Kanu ready to abide by ‘any condition’ to get freedom

    The push for the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu got more intense yesterday.

    A day after Southeast governors resolved to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demand Kanu’s release, some Senators from the region met with the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    They urged him to enter a nolle-prosequi in Kanu’s case as a way of ending the tension and tackling insecurity in the Southeast.

    The lawmakers were led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who said the meeting was to explore an out-of-court settlement in the Kanu case.

    He said the visiting Senators handed a letter to the AGF for delivery to President Tinubu conveying their request.

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    Abaribe lamented that the economy and social lives in the Southeast have continued to be negatively impacted by the Kanu case and his incarceration.

    He said the peaceful and legitimate demand by Kanu has been hijacked by hoodlums and hardened criminals, resulting in wanton killings of innocent people, including security operatives.

    The lawmaker said he met with Kanu on Monday at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, adding that the IPOB leader agreed to abide by any condition set for his release.

    Abaribe was optimistic that once Kanu is released, the tension and troubles that have engulfed the Southeast geo-political zone since 2021 when Kanu was taken into custody would abate.

    He urged the AGF to convey their message to President Tinubu and for the AGF to use his position to terminate all charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government.

    Abaribe said virtually all political and religious leaders, including other stakeholders in the Southeast, have unanimously agreed that Kanu be released for peace to return to the geo-political zone.

    The Senator said: “On behalf of the caucus, I met with Kanu on Monday and he is very supportive of this our plea to the President.

    “The 15 Southeast Senators signed the letter.

    “The Senators, governors, clergy, business and traditional rulers are willing to stand surety for him.

    “He has also assured me that he is ready to fulfil any condition that will lead to his early release.

    “The AGF received us very warmly and promised to digest our request and take it to the President, who will make the ultimate decision.”

    Also yesterday, the Southeast caucus of the House of Representatives appealed to President Tinubu to consider releasing Kanu.

    The 43 lawmakers said they were in support of the out-of-court settlement being discussed between the lawyers of the detained IPOB leader and the prosecution.

    Their demand is contained in a statement signed by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu; Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi; leader of the caucus Enwo Igariwey; Deputy Leader Nnolim Nnaji and Secretary Miriam Onuoha.

    The statement was also endorsed by all the lawmakers from the zone, irrespective of their political affiliation.

    The statement reads in part: “As a Caucus of the House of Representatives from where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hails, we have taken liberty, in consonance with parliamentary practice, to seek the support of other regional caucuses of the House of Representatives, to achieve a quick and responsible resolution of the seemingly intractable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case, a legal impasse that is undoubtedly the missing puzzle in solving the lingering security conundrum in the Southeast of Nigeria.

    “We, therefore, as Representatives of the five Southeast states in the House of Representatives, urge Mr President, to consider the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.

    “We are convinced that a political settlement of this matter by way of an out-of-court settlement, as canvassed before Justice Binta Nyako, is the quickest, most effective, and honourable way of closing this difficult and painful chapter of our national history.”

    Kanu’s kinsmen also joined the call for his release.

    Youths of the Ibeku ancient kingdom in Umuahia, Abia State and kinsmen of Kanu urged President Tinubu to free him.

    The youths, in a letter to President Tinubu, regretted that Kanu’s agitation for equity and fairness for all was misconstrued.

    They believe Kanu’s continued detention despite previous court orders for his release is the major cause of tension and insecurity in the Southeast.

    In a communique after an emergency meeting at their secretariat, Isieke Ibeku, the youths argued that Kanu was not a terrorist but only worried about the perennial injustice against his people and was crying for equity.

    The communique was signed by their National President, Martins Chiedozie Nwosu; and Secretary, Chibuzor Onwukamuche.

    It reads in part: “Our brother Mazi Kanu only stood for truth, equity and justice for the Igbo tribe and the Eastern part of Nigeria, just like Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

    “Hence, his incarceration has become unbearable to us his kinsmen and brothers; knowing full well the catastrophe, instability and insecurity that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention has brought to the Eastern part of Nigeria.”

    In a separate letter to the President dated July 1, the youths wrote: “We hold this strong opinion that Mazi Kanu meant well for the Eastern part of Nigeria, Southern part of Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole.

    “He took up the responsibility to agitate for equity and justice, and inclusion of the Easterners and Southerners in the affairs of Nigeria, in the guise of agitation for Biafra.

    “The then government of Nigeria failed to address the root cause of the agitation, misconstrued the essence of the agitation, and hastily proscribed the peaceful and non-violent group led by Mazi Kanu…”

  • Southeast senators meet AGF, seek freedom for Nnamdi Kanu

    Southeast senators meet AGF, seek freedom for Nnamdi Kanu

    Some senators from the southeast geo-political zone met with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on Wednesday, July 3, to seek his assistance in ensuring freedom for detained leader of the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

    The lawmakers, led by a former deputy governor of Abia state, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, had an audience with the AGF in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Speaking after the meeting, Abaribe said they visited the AGF to work on ways to ensure an end to Kanu’s trial and detention by exploring options outside the court process.

    He said the visiting Senators handed a letter to the AGF for delivery to President Bola Tinubu converying their request for an out-of-court approach to resolving the case involving Kanu.

    Abaribe lamented that the economy and social lives in the Southeast have continued to be negatively impacted by the Kanu case and his incarceration.

    Abaribe said the peaceful and legitimate demand by Kanu has been hijacked by hoodlums and hardened criminals, resulting in wanton killings of innocent people, including security operatives.

    The lawmaker said he met on Monday with Kanu, where he is being kept at the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, adding that Kanu has agreed to abide by any condition set for his release.

    Read Also: Obasanjo parleys Southeast Govs on Nnamdi Kanu

    Abaribe was optimistic that once Kanu is released, the tension and troubles that have engulfed the Southeast geo-political zone since 2021 when Kanu has been in custody would come to an end.

    He urged the AGF to convey their message to President Tinubu and for the AGF to use his position to terminate all charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government.

    Abaribe said virtually all political and religious leaders, including other stakeholders in the Southeast have unanimously agreed that Kanu be released for peace to return to the geo-political zone.

  • Court dismisses Kanu’s N1b human rights suit

    Court dismisses Kanu’s N1b human rights suit

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking N1 billion damages for alleged rights violation.

    Kanu, in the suit, claimed that the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Director-General violated his right to fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him where he is being detained, in preparation of his defence in his criminal trial.

    Among others, Kanu prayed the court to declare the respondents’ acts as a violation of his right and award him damages to the tune of N1 billion, including letter of apology to be published in national dailies.

    Listed as respondents in the suit are the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the DSS and DG of the DSS.

    But Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment yesterday, held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers, and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to fair hearing.

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    Justice Omotosho noted that the Kanu alleged that his fundamental right to fair hearing was breached by the third and fourth respondents (DSS and its DG) when they refused to allow his counsel take notes of their conversations and when they eavesdrop on the consultation with his counsel.

    He equally noted that Kanu ‘is facing a criminal trial and is entitled to the right to adequate time and facilities in preparation for his defence’.

    “He enjoys the constitutional right to fair hearing and, in consequence, has the right to adequate facilities to aid his defence. While there is no argument that the applicant is entitled to the right to adequate time and facilities, the applicant still has the burden to establish that indeed his rights were breached by the respondents.

    “I have gone through the evidence laid before this court and there is nothing placed by the applicant to show that indeed the third and fourth respondents prevented him from seeing his counsel, or that they prevented the counsel from taking notes, or that they eavesdropped on their conversations.

    “The applicant only said he believes these facts to be true without any proof of such belief. There are no dates or specific details as to when any of these occurred. There is also no evidence of any specific information which the third and fourth respondents gleaned from the conversations which the applicant can prove.

    “Perhaps, if the applicant was able to pin point a particular information he gave his lawyers which the third and fourth respondents used against him, it would have helped his case.

    “The applicant has failed to establish the breach of his fundamental right to fair hearing by the third and fourth respondents. Thus, the reliefs cannot be granted.

    “In final analysis, there is no credible proof of breach of fundamental rights of the applicant. Consequently, this application is hereby dismissed,” Justice Omotosho said.

  • JUST IN: Alleged right violation: Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s N1b suit against FRN, AGF, DSS

    JUST IN: Alleged right violation: Court dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s N1b suit against FRN, AGF, DSS

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit by the detained leader of the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu seeking N1billion damages for alleged right violation.

    Kanu had, in the suit marked: FHC/CS/1633/2023 claimed that the Department of State Services DSS and its Director General violated his right to fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from  having unhindered interactions with him where he is being detained, in preparation of his defence in his criminal trial.

    Read Also: Stop merchandising Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for selfish gains, Kalu warns

    In a judgment on Monday, Justice James Omotosho held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to fair hearing.

    Details shortly.

  • Stop merchandising Kanu’s plight for selfish gains, Kalu warns

    Stop merchandising Kanu’s plight for selfish gains, Kalu warns

    • Backs calls for political solution

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu has warned against merchandising Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for selfish economic gain which runs at variance with his wish.

    Kalu threw his weight behind recent calls by some members of the House of Representatives for a political solution to Kanu’s continued detention, but said he should not be used as a tool for any political capital.

    The deputy speaker also applauded the spread of the lawmakers who wrote the to president appealing for Kanu’s release by invoking Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 107(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    Kalu, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said there are expectations which the Southeast caucus will also arise in unison to support. He recalled the impact of Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), a social advocacy group he founded, which promotes non-kinetic approaches in resolving the security challenges and other sociological issues in the region. Kalu insisted that Kanu’s release was very crucial to the restoration of peace in the zone.

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    According to him, a milestone has been recorded in his private engagements with the authorities on achieving a political solution to Kanu’s case. He, however, said such high profile security issues are not products of advertisement in the media, hence the need to keep them confidential in order not to jeopardise the gains so far made.

    The deputy speaker also said he has personally met with Nnamdi Kanu in detention and hoped he will regain his freedom soon.

    While thanking the lawmakers for their support, Kalu appealed to Ndigbo to remain calm and hopeful, and avoid provocative comments in the light of the truism that the government of the day cannot be compelled either covertly or overtly.

    He urged all those genuinely supporting the advocacy for Kanu’s freedom to go about it dispassionately with the face of humanity, and not for personal interest so that the work quietly done so far will not be a waste.

    He added: “I want thank my colleagues from all parts of country and different political parties who made up the 50 lawmakers that recently lent their voices to the appeal for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “The call signifies oneness of purpose and noble objective: that we are one people and what affects one, also affects another. I have always emphasised that united we stand, divided we fall.

    “I assure them that President Bola Tinubu is interested in the peace and development of the Southeast and, given his genuine love for the zone, and appeals so far made, a political solution is imminent in resolving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case of.

    “The voices of my brothers in the parliament are indeed inspiring and I cannot thank them and other Nigerians enough for queuing behind me.”

  • Stop merchandising Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for selfish gains, Kalu warns

    Stop merchandising Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for selfish gains, Kalu warns

    …backs calls for a political solution

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has warned against making merchandise of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s incarceration for selfish economic gain which runs at variance with his wish.

    Kalu threw his weight behind the recent call by a group of 50 members of the House of Representatives for a political solution to the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Kalu Nnamdi, but emphasised that the IPoB leader should not be used as a political tool for any political capital.

    The deputy speaker also applauded the spread of the Lawmakers who wrote the president appealing for the release of Kanu by invoking section 174 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) and section 107(1) of the administration of the Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    In a statement on Tuesday, signed by his chief press secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the deputy speaker said there are expectations that the South East caucus will also arise in unison soon to support the effort.

    He recalled the impact of the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), a social advocacy group he founded that promotes the idea of a non-kinetic approach to resolving the security challenges and other sociological issues in the southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, Kalu said that the release of the IPoB leader was very crucial to the restoration of peace in the zone.

    Kalu said that a milestone has been recorded in his private engagements with the authorities on achieving a political solution in Kanu’s case.

    Kalu, however, stated that such high-profile security issues are not products of advertisement in the media hence the need to keep them confidential in order not to jeopardize the gains so far made.

    The deputy speaker also revealed that he has personally met with Nnamdi Kanu a couple of times in the Department of State Service (DSS) detention facility and expressed the hope that the IPoB leader will soon regain his freedom.

    He said that during his last visit before the court appearance, he discussed and obtained a firm assurance on the side of the IPoB leader on the need for sustainable peace in the region, adding that the agreement has since been communicated to the delight of the authorities and Kanu’s younger brother as his family representative.

    While thanking the lawmakers for their support, Kalu appealed to Ndi Igbo to remain calm and hopeful and avoid provocative comments on this issue in the light of the truism that the government of the day cannot be compelled either covertly or overtly.

    He urged all those genuinely supporting the advocacy for his freedom to go about it dispassionately with the face of humanity and for no personal interest so that the work quietly done on it so far will not be a waste.

    Read Also: Alleged terrorism: Nnamdi Kanu seeks out-of-court settlement

    The deputy speaker re-emphasised that the present APC administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has prioritized the South East for a facelift, assuring the people that the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill which has been transmitted to the president for his assent is one of the obvious ways of rebuilding the region severely ravaged by the civil war.

    “I want to sincerely express my profound appreciation to my colleagues from all parts of the country and different political parties who made up the 50 lawmakers that recently lent their voices to the appeal for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “The call signifies oneness of purpose and noble objective: that we are one people and what affects one, also affects another.

    “I have always emphasized that united we stand, divided we fall.

    “I want to assure them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is interested in the peace and development of the Southeast and given his genuine love for the zone and the appeals so far made, a political solution is imminent in resolving the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “The voices of my brothers in the parliament are indeed inspiring and I cannot thank them and other Nigerians enough for queuing behind me”, Kalu said.

  • Alleged terrorism: Nnamdi Kanu seeks out-of-court settlement

    Alleged terrorism: Nnamdi Kanu seeks out-of-court settlement

    The trial judge and the prosecuting counsel in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu before the Federal High Court in Abuja have distanced themselves from his intention to settle.

    Justice Binta Nyako and Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) urged Kanu’s counsel to reach out to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is on trial on a seven-count amended charge of terrorism, treasonable felony and related offences.

    Defence counsel Alloy Ejimakor said his client wanted the court to invoke Section 17 of the Federal High Court Rules, which he said, provides for “reconciliation” and facilitation of amicable settlement in criminal or civil cases.

    He said: “Section 17 of Federal High Court Rules states that, in any proceedings, the court may consider reconciliation and settlement.”

    Ejimakor claimed to have discussed the proposal with Awomolo.

    Awomolo admitted Ejimakor’s claim.

    “I told him (Ejimakor) to go to the AGF, who has the power.

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    “If he is interested in negotiating, he should go there; his (the AGF’s) office is just here,” Awomolo said, pointing to a building close to the Federal High Court complex.

    “If he is interested in negotiating, he knows the right place, the AGF’s office,” the SAN added.

    Justice Nyako said her court had no problem with either the defence or both parties negotiating.

    “If you want to discuss with the AGF, no problem at all,” the judge said.

    Ejimakor told the court that he filed two applications.

    The first seeks the committal of the Director General of the Department of the Department of State Services (DSS) to prison for allegedly failing to abide by the court’s order.

    The other application, Ejimakor said, is contesting the court’s jurisdiction to further try Kanu.

    Justice Nyako observed that both applications were not in the court’s file.

    She adjourned till September 25.

  • UPDATED: Judge, prosecuting lawyer distance selves from Nnamdi Kanu reconciliation plan

    UPDATED: Judge, prosecuting lawyer distance selves from Nnamdi Kanu reconciliation plan

    The trial judge and the prosecuting lawyer in the terrorism trial of Nnamdi Kanu before a Federal High Court in Abuja have distanced themselves from his plan to explore the reconciliatory procedure.

    Justice Binta Nyako (the judge) and Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN (the prosecuting lawyer) said on Wednesday that it was not in their position to decide whether or not to aid Kanu’s plan to invoke a provision of the Federal High Court Rules that provides for reconciliation in cases before the court.

    Kanu is on trial on a seven-count amended charge of terrorism, treasonable felony and related offences before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    At the mention of the case on Wednesday, Kanu’s lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor said his client wants the court to, on its own invoke Section 17 of the Federal High Court Rules, which he said, provides for “reconciliation” and facilitation of amicable settlement in criminal or civil cases.

    He said: “Section 17 of Federal High Court Rules states that, in any proceedings, the court may consider reconciliation and settlement.”

    Ejimakor claimed to have sometimes ago raised the proposal before Awomolo. He added that the prosecuting lawyer responded by saying that he was not making the proposal at the appropriate time.

    In his response, Awomolo admitted Ejimakor’s claim but examined that he told the defence lawyer that it was not part of his brief to be involved in any negation with the defence in the case.

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    Awomolo said: “I told him (Ejimakor) to go to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who has the power.

    “If he is interested in negotiating, he should go there, his (the AGF’s) office is just here,” Awomolo said, pointing to a building close to the Federal High Court complex.

    “If he is interested in negotiating, he knows the right place, the Attorney General of the Federation office,” Awomolo added.

    On her part, Justice Nyako said her court has no problem with either the defence or both parties to discuss negotiation.

    The judge said it was not the position of the court to be party to such proposal because it was only the responsibility of the court to determine cases and not to act as a solicitor for either of the parties.

    “If you want to discuss with the AGF, no problem at all,” the judge said.

    Earlier, Ejimakor told the court that he filed two applications, the first of which was an application seeking the committal of the Director General of the Department of the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly failing to abide by the court’s order.

    The other application, Ejimakor said, is contesting the court’s jurisdiction to further try Kanu on the pending seven-count charge.

    Justice Nyako observed that both applications were not in the court’s filed and could not be countenanced

    The judge consequently adjourned further proceedings till September 25.

  • JUST IN: Nnamdi Kanu seeks negotiation with FG over alleged terrorism charges

    JUST IN: Nnamdi Kanu seeks negotiation with FG over alleged terrorism charges

    The Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he will, under section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, seek negotiations with the Federal Government.

    Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act states: “In any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”.

    Speaking through his lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, Kanu made this known on Wednesday after he moved two applications brought before the court.

    The first application is to move form 49 and an application objecting to the jurisdiction of the court.

    Read Also: Nnamdi Kanu files contempt charge against DSS DG Bichi

    Ejimakor said if the applications are denied they will move for the implementation of section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.

    Responding to this, counsel to the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, told the court that he had earlier informed the defendant that he does not have the powers to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government as the fiat given to him does not empower him to negotiate.

    He added that the defendant should approach the Attorney General of the Federation.

    In her reply, Justice Binta Nyako said the court was not a solicitor but to only hear cases.

    Kanu has been in DSS custody since June 2021 when he was arrested in Kenya and has since resumed terrorism-related trials levelled against him by the Federal Government.

    Details shortly…