Legal Tussle: FG Manipulating The Judiciary In My Case — Nnamdi Kanu

Legal Tussle: FG Manipulating The Judiciary In My Case — Nnamdi Kanu The incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movem...

Legal Tussle: FG Manipulating The Judiciary In My Case — Nnamdi Kanu

The incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has once again reiterated the legitimacy of his rights to quest for self-determination protected under local and international laws, accusing the federal government of unfair, inconsistent application of frivolous charges to keep him incarcerated in perpetuity. 

This he made through his legal attorney, Barr Aloy Ejimakor after the latest weekly routine visit at the Nigerian secret police headquarters, Abuja. The IPOB leader pointed out, that the unfounded treasonable felony charges against him and upon which, he was detained and tried for 18months and 6 years respectively were subsequently removed by the federal government to be replaced with terrorism charges. This was after the Federal government realized the frivolous nature of these treasonable felony charges. 

The statement reads in part, " The so-called treason or treasonable felony charges were all struck out on 14th October 2021 at the behest of the Federal Government because of the absence of any evidence to prove them." 

"To be sure, these charges were struck out after Mazi Nnamdi had endured a grueling eighteen months detention and six years of trial on account of these charges. Thus, the sudden shift from treason to terrorism after the extraordinary rendition reflects a dubious move by the Federal Government to shift the goal post, which directly led to the current lengthy detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu." 

"To be clear, treason (under Section 41 of the Criminal Code) requires proving intent to overthrow the State, a very high bar tied to Mazi Kanu’s pre-2017 self determination activities. After his 2021 abduction, the government reframed the case around terrorism, leveraging on IPOB’s 2017 proscription by Abubakar Malami & late Justice Kafarati to target post-2017 Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's broadcasts and leadership as a way to cripple a legitimate agitation for self determination - a protected right under Article 20 of the African Charter, enacted by the National Assembly in 1983."

The IPOB Leader went on to buttress the illegality of the means through which, he was subsequently brought to stand trial in Nigeria 4 years ago, a blunder which according to him was acknowledged by the Nigerian Supreme Court and on such basis, his current trial is regarded illegal and against Nigerian laws as well as international treaties and charters.

"For avoidance of doubt, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was not “arrested” in Kenya but was instead abducted in what the Supreme Court (per Justice Emmanuel Agim) called a “criminal abduction” and characterized as “executive lawlessness”, a damning condemnation of the actions of the Nigerian government by the highest court in Nigeria." 

"It is no different from the brazen and criminal manner kidnappers abduct their victims and demand ransom. The Supreme Court also acknowledged the egregious violations of international law & norms (e.g., extradition treaties) and Nigerian law (e.g., fair hearing and due process), consistent with the UN Working Group opinion in July 2022 calling Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's detention arbitrary."

Furthermore, the IPOB leader objected to the unprocedural proscription of the IPOB movement he leads, citing the resolution of a competent court jurisdiction which pronounced the IPOB movement as a lawful group. Accusing the federal government of leveraging the unprocedural ruling of 2017 to perpetuate his contemporary incarceration.

"Above all, the Federal government sidestepped a binding 2016 Federal High Court ruling that held that IPOB is not an unlawful group and resorted to leveraging in a procedurally flawed 2017 proscription to levy an infamous rendition against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. To this day, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's prosecution is still hinged on this highly flawed 2017 proscription of IPOB."

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