The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Radio Biafra

  • I’m vindicated on Atiku’s birth place, says Nnamdi Kanu

    Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has said the claim by All Progressives Congress (APC) to the effect that presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubarkar is not a Nigerian but a Cameroonian has vindicated him.

    Addressing his members through his broadcast on Radio Biafra, Kanu said: “The headline ‘Atiku Is Not a Nigerian, APC Tells Tribunal’ is vindication that everything I say on Radio Biafra is the truth. It may appear outlandish and unbelievable at first, but eventually history always vindicates me.

    “As everyone can see very clearly, it is unambiguously stated that for you to become the president of Nigeria, you must be born a Nigerian. Simply put, your birth certificate or any official notation must say clearly that you are a Nigerian. As at the time Atiku was born, his citizenship on his birth certificate read Cameroonian”.

    He described the 1999 Constitution as amended as clearly defective because those who crafted it were neither philosophers, social scientists, thinkers nor constitutional experts.

     According to Kanu, the argument by some people that if Atiku was a Cameroonian, he could have been the Comptroller of Customs and Vice President will not hold water as Section 131(a) of the Constitution was clear on who should be the president of the country.

    He said that “The incontrovertible truth is that His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the former Vice President of Nigeria for eight years, became a Nigerian by virtue of the referendum of the 11th of February 1961.

    “He was not born a Nigerian and as such he became a Nigerian as a result of the British organised plebiscite held in British Cameroons to give the people of Adamawa, where Atiku comes from, the opportunity to choose where they would like to belong.

     “When I first raised this issue, which incidentally has been ignored by all arms of government including INEC whose duty it is to ensure that candidates meet all stipulated constitutional requirements, it was not to insinuate or imply that Atiku is not a Nigerian, but rather to highlight the very constitutionally critical point at the heart of IPOB agitation for Biafra independence; which is that asking for a referendum is never a crime in any law known to man.

     “Therefore if Adamawa people can be allowed to freely choose where they wish to belong, then justice and equity dictates that we the people of Biafra must be allowed to do the same. This point that is lost on Justice Binta Nyako and numerous other semi-literate judges handling IPOB cases today in Nigerian courts.

    While lambasting Atiku’s defence team over what he described as their weak and porous argument that if Atiku was not a Nigerian he wouldn’t have become Nigeria’s vice-president, lived, invested and paid tax in the country for years as a citizen, the IPOB leader said by virtue of relevant section of Nigeria, anybody born in Adamawa between 1946 when Atiku was born to 1960, was not qualified to contest election as president of Nigeria.

    READ ALSO: Nnamdi Kanu: A continuing tragedy

     “This is a wholly unnecessary digression that failed to address the constitutional question of place of birth as key qualification for anybody seeking to become the president of Nigeria. That Atiku was the Vice President is not the issue at hand but rather his suitability as defined by the constitution of Nigeria.

    “With this ridiculous born in Nigeria requirement, nobody born in present day Adamawa before 1961 or those of us born in Biafra from 1967 to 1970 can ever vie for the office of the president of Nigeria.

    “Atiku Abubakar was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, now Adamawa State, then in Northern Cameroon, was a citizen of Cameroon but now a Nigerian by plebiscite. This information has always been in the public domain. What I did was just to flag it.

    “The only part that can be said that I pioneered is that “Atiku became a Nigerian citizen by the sheer force of Referendum which is what I want for Biafra. I wanted to prove to some ignorant Nigerians and their quack judges that asking for a referendum is not treasonable felony,” the IPOB leader said.

  • Biafra: Kanu disowns American radio

    Biafra: Kanu disowns American radio

    …Announces reorganisation in IPOB

    The leader of the group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has dissociated himself and members of his association from a certain Radio Biafra based in the United States.

    He also said a reorganisation has been effected in the leadership of the group, resulting in, among others, the abolition of the title of Coordinator of all Coordinators (COC).

    Kanu urged IPOB members to observe the sit-at-home planned for May 30 this year peacefully. He said the exercise was to remember Biafra heroes, who died during the Civil War and at other times.

    In a statement issued yesterday by his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu said the official voice of IPOB remains the Radio Biafra based in London, registered under the relevant laws in the United Kingdom (UK).

    He said a supposed Radio Biafra, said to have been recently launched in the US is not known to him and his members, and did not represent their interests.

    Part of the letter reads:

    “Nnamdi Kanu remains the founder, and director of Radio Biafra London and accordingly Deputized by Mazi Uche Mefor. Radio Biafra London is the officially sanctioned channel of communication of IPOB, through which every information concerning the affairs of IPOB are disseminated. “At the same time, all members of IPOB and the general public are hereby  duly informed that the position of C.O.C (Coordinator of all Coordinators) overall, has been abolished following the recent reorganisation carried out by the leadership  of IPOB worldwide.

    “Henceforth any person parading himself with the title C.O.C should be regarded and treated as a criminal.

    “Following this radical change in the structural setup of IPOB, the world Administrative Headquarters of IPOB is now situated in London and Germany respectively. 

    Related: Okoro Tale of Biafra anti-heroes

    “The officers with the mandate of the leadership of IPOB and through whom the supreme leader Nnamdi Kanu speaks remains Radio Biafra London with satellite stations in South Africa, Malaysia, Germany and soon to be opened United State of America. 

    “The two persons appointed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as being responsible for communicating his thoughts and views to IPOB membership and the rest of the world remains Uche Mefor (the Deputy Leader of IPOB) and Mazi Chika Edoziem (the Head of the Directorate of State of the IPOB). 

    “All authority to issue directives rests with the Deputy Leader, Uche Mefor and Mazi Chika Edoziem. Any press release, announcement or communication purportedly issued by any other person other than the above named principal officers or officers acting on their instruction are to be discountenanced and ignored by the general public.

    Related: Don’t provoke Kanu – IPOB warns

    “Above named officers of (IPOB) are the authorized representatives, appointed by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the helm of affairs of IPOB. 

    “Anybody transacting or relating with any other person, other than Uche Mefor and Chika Edoziem or those appointed by them are doing so at their own risk.”

  • 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.”

  • Court denies Kanu, others bail

    Court denies Kanu, others bail

    A Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday dismissed the bail application of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPB) and founder, Radio Biafra.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi charged along with Kanu were also denied bail.

    Delivering ruling, Justice John Tsoho held that the applicants failed to meet up with the requirements to be admitted on bail.

    “The application is hereby refused and the applicants are ordered to be remanded in Kuje prison pending the determination of the case,’’ Tsoho held.

    Specifically, the judge held that the bail was refused because of the nature of the alleged crime against the accused persons – treasonable felony, conspiracy and possession of unlawful fire-arm.

    Tsoho said that, if granted bail, there was higher propensity for the applicants to continue with the agitation for the actualisation of the State of Biafra.

    “The contention between the prosecution and the defendants hinges on the un-disclaimed readiness of Kanu and his group to continue with their agitation and the mandate of the Federal Government to maintain law and order.

    “The court is therefore, inclined to believing that the applicants are prepared to stir unrest as submitted by the prosecution.

    “The first applicant (Kanu) is said to have a dual citizenship, being a citizen of Nigeria and Britain.

    “This dual status widens probability to escape from justice,’’ he held.

    Tsoho further said that in line with the provisions of Sections 162 and 168 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) applicant for bail shall fulfill some criteria.

    “These criteria include, but not limited to; the nature of charge, security of listed witnesses, pending criminal record of applicant, probability of applicant of not surrendering himself for trial and punishment allotted to crime committed.

    “From the addresses before me, it is clear that the applicants have failed to dispel the fears raised by the prosecution team.

    “The prosecution has urged the court to take judicial notice of the veracity of the charge and the life punishment the treason allegation attracts,’’ Tsoho said.

    The Judge also held that it was wrong for the defendant counsel to insinuate that the ACJA makes granting of bail mandatory.

    The Judge adjourned till Feb. 9 to Feb. 12 for definite trial.

    Speaking to newsmen after the session, Chief Chucks Muoma (SAN), counsel to the applicants said the decision would be appealed.

  • DSS to court: Discontinue Kanu’s trial

    DSS to court: Discontinue Kanu’s trial

    The senior magistrate court, Wuse 2 Abuja, has been requested to discontinue trial of Nnamdi Kanu, Director of Radio Biafra who is standing trial on alleged criminal conspiracy.

    The request was made Monday by the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The Nation reports that Kanu is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to unlawful society, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    At the sitting of the court Monday, prosecution counsel, Moses Idakwo, told the court that after the arraignment of the accused, the complainant stumbled on some facts which took the matter out of the jurisdiction of the court.

    He said, the complainant found out that the accused was involved in terrorism and has been financing it adding; “The complainant is, therefore, applying to discontinue the matter under section 108(1) of administration of criminal justice act 2015.’’

    According to the prosecution counsel, the DSS had also obtained an order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, and dated Nov.10, to detain the accused in its custody for 90 days.

    But Kanu’s counsel, Vincent Obetta, prayed the court not to discontinue the case because the prosecution did not present any information from the Attorney-General of Federation who had the authority to approve such.