By Fola James
Doubts by people of the South east on whether Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB is still alive is the reason for the continued observance of sit-at -home order by the secessionist group. Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor disclosed this, on Wednesday, during a press conference, noting that unrest in the region will persist as long as Kanu is held incommunicado by the federal government.
Major cities in the south east have remained deserted despite the suspension of the order by IPOB, as apprehension looms that businesses and other commercial activities are being paralysed, while repeated calls by state governors from the region for people to go back to their normal daily duties have been largely ignored.
Kanu has been in detention since June 2021, after he was arrested in Kenya.
During the last adjourned date, the prosecution failed to bring him to court from the custody of the State Security Services, DSS, Abuja where he has been detained for months.
Igbo leaders, including IPOB has continued to demand that Kanu be produced in court for trial as a minimum demand to end violence in the region and to prove that he’s still alive.
“We urge the leader of the Ohanaeze delegation to the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife and our legal team led by the National Legal Adviser of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Barr. Joseph Ojodu and Barr. Goddy Uwazurike to put in their very best to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu obtains justice,” Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the umbrella Igbo socio-cultural body, said ahead the resumption of Kanu’s trial on Thursday.
The federal government had, last week, filed fresh charges against the embattled IPOB leader.
According to his lawyer, the current tension in the region is due to the belief that Kanu may have been killed in detention because “our people are yet to see and believe that our Client Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is still alive.”
“This suspicion was further fueled by his non-production in Court on the 26th day of July 2021, for no tangible reason. Our people’s demand for his unconditional release from custody is a well-informed position, which the Government at the centre currently persecuting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should give a listening ear to, and speedily activate the process towards his freedom, as he has committed no offence known to law.
“That the Security Agents should avoid any situation that will result to any form of maltreatment to the Lawyers in court (whose constituency is that very court), the media, or those that will be attending Court in solidarity with our Client.
“The World is watching. The show of shame openly demonstrated by the overzealous Security Agents on the 26th day of July 2021 should never repeat itself.”
Ejiofor warned security agencies not to harass Kanu’s supporters when they show up in court tomorrow for his trial.
“On this note, arrest, molestation, rough handling and maltreatment of harmless civilians and sympathisers, who are to be in court in a show of solidarity, should not be allowed.
“We also wish to advise our client’s supporters to bear in mind that not everybody will be able to access the courtroom on this day. Hence, wherever you find yourselves within the court’s environment, you all must remain civil in your conduct, as you have always been, and continue to supplicate to God Almighty even as the trial goes on,” he said.
