Tobias Sylvester
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel for the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has dismissed claims that his client being a member of the proscribed group during his trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
KanyiDaily recalls that the counsel to the federal government, Shuaibu Labaran had alleged that Nnamdi Kanu vehemently denied being an IPOB member when he was re-arraigned on 15-count charge of treasonable felony and terrorism on Wednesday,
Labaran said, “One of the charges suggesting that the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu is a member of IPOB and he vehemently denied being a member of IPOB.”
“That is very curious and we urge Nigerians to see us through how we are going to prove all those charges against the defendant in no time to come.”
Nnamdi Kanu Never Denied IPOB
In a statement on Thursday, January 20, Ejiofor denied Labaran’s claims, noting that Kanu only denied the fact that IPOB is a terrorist organization and that being its leader is an offence.
The lawyer said the clarification became necessary because of what he described as “deliberate misrepresentation/falsehood and wrong narratives being perpetuated by some mischief makers” and gaining prominence in social media.
The statement titled, “Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never denied being the leader of IPOB – Let the records be set straight,” reads:
“Our attention has been drawn to the deliberate misrepresentation/falsehood and wrong narratives being perpetuated by some mischief-makers, and which is unfortunately gradually gaining prominence on social media platforms and print media. Hence, it is pertinent that we provide clarification and clear the doubt.
“S.M. Labaran Esq, who stood in yesterday for the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation is a colleague I hold in high esteem, but I shall resist every mischievous ploy being adopted to misinform the unsuspecting members of the public who were not privy to the details of the proceedings in court yesterday, with a wrong and mischievous interpretation of the purport of the Plea taken by our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“For the records, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never denied being the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) while taking his plea, but only stoutly denied the fact that IPOB is a terrorist organisation and that being its leader is an offence, which position is well informed.
“Members of the public should be well guided that the status of the black market order proscribing IPOB is a subject of Appeal in Appeal Number: APPEAL NO. CA/A/214/2018, pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
“That being said, it is only laughable that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in their desperate but futile attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it, brought a charge bordering on the status of IPOB, a subject matter of a competent Appeal, where issues have been joined with the same FGN.
“We do not wish to dwell further on this subject, but be rightly informed that Kanu never denied being the Leader of IPOB while taking his Plea yesterday.”
KanyiDaily had reported that during his trial, Nnamdi Kanu pleaded not guilty to 15-count charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism instituted against him by the FG at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Meanwhile, Umuahia High Court ordered the Nigerian Government to pay N1billion to Nnamdi Kanu for invading his father’s house and violating his fundamental human rights.
