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Tag: Nnamdi Kanu

  • IPOB fires Kanu’s lawyers over anti-Avengers comments

    IPOB fires Kanu’s lawyers over anti-Avengers comments

    •And ‘misleading’ public on negotiations with government •Gives conditions for negotiation

    The Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dropped his defence lawyers for disowning the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    IPOB said in a statement late on Friday in Abuja that the utterances of the defence lawyers on negotiation between Kanu and the Federal Government as well as on the Avengers were “made without consultation.”

    “As a result of these unsolicited and unguarded utterances, the defence team has been sacked and will be replaced,” the group said in the statement by Emma Nmezu and  Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya.

    It added: “The IPOB leader wishes to state categorically that the only thing we are open to is negotiation that will lead to modalities and processes to restore Biafra and avert further hardships on the people of Nigeria who have been under bondage since his kidnapping and illegal detention.

    “The Niger Delta Avengers arose because of the inherent injustice in Nigeria as manifested in the disregard to the rule of law when Buhari refused to obey court order to unconditionally release our leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    “We spoke the mind of our leader when we stated for record purposes that IPOB and Niger Delta Avengers share the same ideology of freedom for Biafra.

    “Anybody publicly dissociating IPOB from Niger Delta Avengers is a mortal enemy of IPOB family worldwide under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Let it be known that as long as Buhari and Daura continue to tamper with Nnamdi Kanu’s defence team through bribery, inducements and intimidation, IPOB will keep on changing the team.

    “For the records, the press conference by the now-sacked legal team was about bringing to public knowledge the foolishness of the Department of State Services (DSS) in bringing treasonable felony charges against our leader and the lack of evidence thereof.

    “The press conference was NEVER about negotiations because should negotiations start, IPOB will notify the world about it. Right now, we are not negotiating and will not negotiate until existing court orders ordering the release of Nnamdi Kanu are obeyed.

    “In the interim, Ifeanyi Ejiofor will continue to act as lead counsel until other counsels are appointed who will not sell their souls to the devil. Biafra or death!!!”

    Kanu’s lawyers had disowned MEND and NDA for linking their own agitations to Kanu’s incarceration.

    They said Kanu and IPOB had “no connection, contact, ties or any kind of relationship” with their members whatsoever.

    The lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amoebi Nzelu expressed Kanu’s willingness to negotiate with the Federal Government, saying he was prepared to accept a political solution in line with his belief that he is a political prisoner of conscience.

    Kanu and two of his associates – Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi (a Field Maintenance engineer with MTN) – are currently being held in Kuje prison, Abuja, following their arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The Federal Government recently directed the release of some members of the group arrested in February this year during a protest rally.

    On the claims that MEND was negotiating on behalf of Kanu and IPOB, the lawyer said: “Nnamdi Kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any kind of relationship with members of the MEND. As such, MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation going on between MEND and the Federal Government.”

    Responding to a question on whether Kanu would abandon his campaign for an independent state of Biafra in exchange for freedom, Nzelu said that his client would not jettison the agitation even if he was released.

    He also said that Kanu has no ties with the Avengers.

  • Biafra: Kanu ‘willing’ to negotiate with FG

    Biafra: Kanu ‘willing’ to negotiate with FG

    The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu on Friday disclosed that his group, IPOB, is willing to negotiate with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to end the agitation for self-governance.

    The IPOB leader made this known through his lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amoebi Nzelu, while reacting to the government’s decision on Thursday to release some members of the group who were arrested in February.

    According to his lawyers, Kanu said they were not opposed to talks with the government.

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  • Two Policemen fear dead in clash with MASSOB

    Two Policemen fear dead in clash with MASSOB

    Two policemen were Monday feared dead while two others were injured following clashes with protesters under the auspices of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).

    MASSOB are agitating for the release of IPOB henchman Nnamdi Kanu currently standing trial for treasonable felony.

    The group is also agitating for the independence of Biafra from the Nigerian State.

    The Nation gathered that a police patrol van was vandalised by the protesters at Mammy Market junction along Nnebisi road.

    The Nation gathered that trouble started after policemen fired tear gas canisters into the crowd on a peaceful march around Anwai road in Asaba metropolis.

    Following this attack, the crowd regrouped and attack a police patrol team fatally stabbing a policeman in the melee that ensued.

    The Nation reporter who visited the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba where the corpse of the slain cop was deposited observed that the Achilles tendon of the deceased cop was ruptured leading to a pool of blood on the floor by the stretcher upon which the policeman laid.

    Two policemen were reportedly thrown by the protesters into the River Niger, while one of the cop was retrieved and rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba rescue efforts to recover the other one was ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

    The rescued cop had a wound in his navel while he bled from swellings on his forehead. Also the cop had a bruise on his left leg apparently sustained from the fall into the River Niger.

    The Nation gathered that the rescued cop receiving treatment is an Assistant Superintended of Police (ASP) attached to the ‘B’ division.

    Yet a fourth policemen sustained injuries on his left and was admitted at the Federal Medical Centre.

    Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Commissioner, Alkali Baba Usman proved abortive as his number was switched off.

    But acting Delta Police image maker, SP Charles Muka declined comments saying his men were still in the field

    His words,’ I cannot say anything as the policemen are still in the field. I cannot comfim any killing or not.I am awaiting information’.

  • ‎Biafra: Kanu, two associates to remain in detention – A/Court

    ‎Biafra: Kanu, two associates to remain in detention – A/Court

    The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Wednesday  approved the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafria (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and two of his associates – David Nwawusi and Benjamin Madubugwu.

    A three-man bench of the appellate court, led by Justice Abdul Aboki, upheld the January 29 ruling of Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, refusing the appellants’ bail.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kanu and his associates are being tried on charges of treasonable felony, conspiracy and illegal arms possession.

    The applicants had jointly approached the appellate court to challenge the January 29 ruling  which denied them bail.

    Justice Aboki held that the grievous nature of the charges and dual citizenship status of Kanu influenced the court’s decision.

    “We have digested the processes brought before us to decide this matter and having painstakingly assessed the two extreme submissions by parties, the court is inclined to upholding the decision of the trial court.

    “Our decision hinges on the grievous nature of the charges brought against the applicants.

    “It is even more challenging to grant Nnamdi Kanu’s prayer in the circumstance due to his dual citizenship status.

    “As we have seen from the documentary evidence before us, Kanu holds both Nigerian and British citizenship passports narrowing the possibility of his standing justice if granted bail,’’ Aboki said.

    He added, “In the light of the above, the appeal against the January 29 decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the applicants is hereby dismissed.’’

     

     

     

     

  • Appeal Court reserves judgments in Metuh, Kanu appeals

    Appeal Court reserves judgments in Metuh, Kanu appeals

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday reserved judgments in two appeals filed by spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh and pro-Biafra campaigner, Nnamdi Kanu.

    A three-man panel headed by Justice Abdul Aboki told parties after they adopted their various briefs of argument that dates for the judgments will be communicated to them.

    Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, are appealing the ruling by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which rejected their no-case submission and ordered them to enter defence in their trial for money laundering and unlawful receipt of funds from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

    Kanu is appealing the ruling of Justice John Tsoho (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja) which agreed with the prosecution’s request to shield its witnesses in Kanu and two others’ trial for treasonable felony.

    Metuh and his company are being tried on a seven-count charge.

    After the prosecution completed its case earlier this year, having called eight witnesses, the court asked the defence to open its case.

    Rather than conducting their defence, Metuh and Destra Investment Limited elected to make a no-case submission, which the judge rejected in a ruling.

    The judge argued that the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against the defendants in the matter.

     

  • Court dismisses Kanu’s application

    Court dismisses Kanu’s application

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed the application of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, seeking for stay of proceedings pending determination of his appeal.

    Kanu had approached the appellate court challenging the earlier decision of the court which upheld the prosecution’s request to shield their witnesses from members of the public during trial.

    The judge, Justice John Tsoho, held that the application for stay of proceedings lacked merit and ordered that the trial would proceed in the mode earlier directed by the court.

    Kanu and his co-defendants are standing trial on a six-count charge of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession ‎of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

    Tsoho relied on provisions of Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits courts from entertaining a motion for stay of proceedings with respect to criminal cases.

     

    Contrary to the contention by Kanu’s lawyer, Chuks Muoma (SAN), Tsoho held that the provision of Section 306 of ACJA could not deny an accused person fair hearing.

    The judge held that the provision of the ACJA was to enhance the right to speedy trial guaranteed an accused person in the constitution.

    “Section 306 of ACJA removes hitches to speedy trial which is component of fair hearing,’’ Tsoho held.

    The judge also distinguished the trial of the Biafra agitators from that of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    In Saraki’s case, the Supreme Court last year, after the advent of the ACJA, granted ‎an order for stay of proceedings in his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    Tsoho held that the prevailing circumstances informing the decision of the Supreme Court to grant stay of proceedings in Saraki’s case was not available in the instant case.

    He said in Saraki’s case the issue of whether the cases entertained by the CCT were criminal in nature or not was still to be determined by the Supreme Court was not available in the case before him.

    ‎He explained that it was not in doubt that the Federal High Court had jurisdiction to hear criminal cases.

    “It is moreso, given that the application for stay of proceedings is not founded on lack of intrinsic jurisdiction of this court but on mode of procedure to be adopted in the trial.’’

    The court after dismissing the application held that the trial would proceed in the mode he had earlier directed on March 7 which was to shield them from the public but not to wear masks.

    The case was adjourned till June 20 to June 23 for trial.

  • MASSOB demands release of Kanu, others

    MASSOB demands release of Kanu, others

    The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has once again called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Ben Onwuka of Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM).

     

    Also, the movement demanded for immediate release of 23 other Biafran detainees languishing at Awka and Onitsha prisons since 2006.

     

    In a statement yesterday in Onitsha, the national Director of Information (MASSOB), Comrade Samuel Edeson, said the group’s leader, Uchenna Madu would soon attend International conference with seven other members in Western Europe where some of the issues would be discussed.

     

    He said the decisions were taken at MASSOB’s headquarters yesterday at Okwe, Okigwe during its emergency meeting.

     

    Furthermore, MASSOB said the continued detention of these Igbo agitators by the federal government, was the more the country suffered diplomatic damages.

     

    “MASSOB will continue to partner with (IPOB), lower Niger congress and Biafran groups in Diaspora for genuine agitation, we shall never relent despite arrests, detention, killings and persecution”

     

    The international conference according to (MASSOB), was on the rights of Indigenous People and self determination groups across the globe.

     

    “We demand for the unconditional release of our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, (IPOB leader and others) whose cases cannot be justified by the Nigeria government, their continued detention has exposed the bias of Nigeria judiciary” MASSOB said.

     

  • Biafra: Kanu, associates accuse second judge of bias

    Biafra: Kanu, associates accuse second judge of bias

    Pro-Biafra agitator Nnamdi Kanu and two of his associates have accused a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice James Tsoho, of bias.

    The three, who were arraigned before the judge on January 20, on charges of treasonable felony, have also applied for transfer of the case to a new judge.

    These are contained in the notice of appeal and motion of stay of proceedings pending appeal filed by the three defendants yesterday.

    This is the second time the three would be expressing doubt about the ability of the judge to ensure justice and fairness in their trial.

    Last December 23, Kanu told Justice Ahmed Mohammed (also of the Federal High Court), before who they were to be arraigned, that he was not confident the judge would  not be bias.

    Kanu, who said he got information that the judge could not ensure justice in his trial, demanded that the case be transferred to another judge.

    Based on Kanu’s statement, Justice Mohammed withdrew from the case and returned the case file to the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, who reassigned the case to Tsoho.

    Kanu and two others were arraigned before Justice Tsoho on six counts of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences concerning their agitation for secession  of Biafra from Nigeria.

    On March 7, Justice Tsoho ruled on an oral application by the prosecution to shield its witnesses from public glare in view of threat to their lives.

    The judge, in an earlier ruling, rejected the prosecution’s request to have its witnesses wear mask. But the judge varied that order on Monday and agreed to the shielding of the prosecution’s witness, a decision the defendants represented by Chuks Muoma (SAN), expressed discomfort about.

    Muoma, who reluctantly agreed to the court’s decision, insisted on a prior demonstration of the witness’ shielding procedure before it could be applied.

    Yesterday, the procedure was demonstrated behind the public, but the prosecution witness was not available, following which Muoma informed the court about the notice of appeal and motion for stay of proceedings he filed for the defendants.

    Prosecution lawyer Muhammad Diri acknowledged being served with the two processes filed by the defendants and sought time to respond.

    In their notice of appeal, Kanu and others want the Court of Appeal to set aside Justice Tsoho’s “ruling/order of the learned judge, dated March 7, 2015”.

    They also sought an order directing the chief judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the hearing of the substantive case pending before Justice Tsoho to another judge.

    Another ground of appeal is that the judge erred in law “when having refused the application for the witnesses of the prosecution to testify behind screens or masked” on February 19, 2016, “suddenly varied the order on March 7, 2016, on a mere oral application by the respondent”.

    The defendants argued that the judge granted the prosecution’s oral application without jurisdiction, and thereby “occasioning a miscarriage of justice”.

    They stated that the particulars of the judge’s error include giving an order in violation of their right to fair hearing and therefore betraying his alleged bias.

    They raised similar issues in an affidavit in support of their application for a stay of proceedings, which was deposed to by a lawyer in their defence team, Emmanuel Ayoola.

    They stated in the affidavit that there was no formal written application by the learned director of Public Prosecutions requesting variation of the order of court made on February 19, 2016.

    “That by granting the learned director of Public Prosecution’s application, this court sat on appeal over its ruling/order of February 19, 2016.

    “That this court has no jurisdiction to re-litigate on issue it had decided.

    “That the court had manifested serious bias in the conduct of this trial, which is gravely impeding the defendants’ rights to fair hearing/trial.”

    Justice Tsoho adjourned to April 4 for hearing of the motion for a stay of proceedings.

  • Biafra: Kanu, associates accuse second judge of bias

    Biafra: Kanu, associates accuse second judge of bias

    Pro-Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu and two of his associates have accused a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Justice James Tsoho, of bias.

    The three, who were arraigned before the judge on January 20 this year on charges of treasonable felony, have also applied for the transfer of the case to a new judge.

    These are contained in the notice of appeal and motion of stay of proceedings pending appeal filed by the three defendants Wednesday.

    This is the second time the three will be expressing doubt about the ability of their trial judge to endure justice and fairness in their trial.

    On December 23 last year, Kanu told Justice Ahmed Mohammed (also of the Federal High Court), before who they were to be arraigned, that he was not confident that the judge would ensure justice and would not be bias.

    Kanu, who said he got information that the judge cannot ensure justice in his trial, demanded that the case be transferred to another judge.

    Based on Kanu’s statement, Justice Mohammed withdrew from the case and returned the case file to the court’s Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, who later reassigned the case to Tsoho.

    Kanu and two others were arraigned before Justice Tsoho on six counts of treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms and other offences bordering on their agitation for secession ‎of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

    On March 7, Justice Tsoho ruled on an oral application by the prosecution to allow the shielding of its witnesses from public glare in view of threat to their lives.

    The judge had, in an earlier ruling rejected the prosecution’s request to have its witnesses wear mask. But the judge varied that order on Monday and aggreed to the shielding of the prosecution’s witness, a decision the defendants represented by Chuks Muoma (SAN), expressed discomfort.

    Muoma, who reluctantly agreed to the court’s decision, insisted on a prior demonstration of the witness’ shielding procedure before it could be applied.

    Wednesday, the procedure was demonstrated behind the public, but the prosecution witness was not available, following which Muoma informed the court about the notice of appeal and motion for stay of proceedings he filed for the defendants.

    Prosecution lawyer, Muhammad Diri acknowledged being served with the two processes filed by the defendants and sought time to respond.

    In their notice of appeal, Kanu and others want the Court of Appeal to set aside Justice Tsoho’s  “ruling/order of th learned trial judge, dated March 7, 2015.

    “An order of this honourable court directing the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the trial hearing of the substantive charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/15, currently pending before Justice J. Tsoho to another judge of the Federal High Court for trial.”

    Among their grounds of appeal include  that the judge erred in law “when having refused the application for the witnesses of the prosecution to testified behind screens, or masked” on February 19, 2016, “suddenly varied the said order in the ruling delivered on March 7, 2016, on a mere oral application by the respondent”.

    The defendants argued that the judge granted the prosecution’s oral application without jurisdiction, and thereby “occasioning a miscarriage of justice”.

    They stated that the particulars of the judge’s error include giving an order in violation of their right to fair hearing and therefore betrayed his alleged bias in the handling of the case.

    “There is manifest bias on the part of the learned trial judge in the conduct of this case, which is apparent in the unwholesome manner his order was reviewed to give undue advantage to the prosecution, in flagrant violation of the appellants’ right to fair trial, as constitutionally guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended),” the defendants said.

    They raised similar issues in an affidavit filed in support of their application for stay of proceedings, which was deposed to by a lawyer in their defence team, Emmanuel Ayoola

    They stated in the affidavit that there was no formal written application by the learned Director of Public Prosecutions requesting variation of the order of court made on February 19, 2016.

    “That by granting the learned Director of Public Prosecution’s application, this honourable court sat on appeal over its own ruling/order, dated February 19, 2016.

    “That this honourable court has no jurisdiction to re-litigate on issue it had already decided.

    “That the court had manifested serious bias in the conduct of this trial, which is gravely impeding the defendants’ constitutional rights to fair hearing/trial.”

    Justice Tsoho has adjourned to April 4 for the hearing of the motion for stay of proceeding pending appeal.

  • Kanu’s trial: MASSOB berates masking of witnesses

    Kanu’s trial: MASSOB berates masking of witnesses

    Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) faction led by Uchenna Madu has berated that masking of prosecution witnesses by the Department of Security Service (DSS) in the trial of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    The group on Wednesday described the process as an act of cowardice on the part of the Federal Government and the DSS.

    In a statement, comrade Uchenna Madu stated that the insistence of the Federal Government through the DSS to hide the identity of their witnesses was not only an act of cowardice, but a sign of not being serious and unsteadiness.

    According to him, the prosecution was insisting on masked witnesses because they had no genuine witnesses as the ones they earlier had been exposed and it now behooves on the prosecution to use personnel of DSS who would appear with Igbo names as witnesses, to create the negative impression that Ndigbo are against Kanu.

    “Those the DSS contracted to come and give false witness against Kanu, on finding the truth, declined to come forward. To accomplish their evil plans, they have decided to use their personnel who would bear Igbo names to come and give witness against Kanu, to create the impression that he (Kanu) is not liked by Ndigbo and that is why they want to cover their faces in court and at the end, they will cover their faces in shame,” he said.

    The MASSOB leader said it was absurd for the DSS to allege that some pro Biafra agitators were plotting to invade the court and forcefully free the IPOB leader.

    He wondered how the DSS has suddenly become confused and described the reason that IPOB and MASSOB members would invade a courtroom located at the 3rd floor of the Federal High Court building and manned by heavily armed security operatives as frivolous. 

    He said that although the arrest and detention of Kanu have revived the consciousness of Biafra to a higher dimension and stated that the group absolute faith in God that Kanu would soon be set free at last.

    While calling on all pro-Biafra groups to rally round Kanu, Madu warned that the continued detention of Kanu will “bring more devastating diplomatic doom for Nigeria now and in the future.”