Nnamdi Kanu; Innocent Until Proven Guilty; Don't Harass Supporters, Warns Ejimakor; Media Houses Restricted

By Gideon Njoku

Alloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to detained Leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB has issued a warning to Security Agents not to harass his supporters who choose to witness his appearance in Court on Monday, July 26, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

His warning came on the heels of reports that Security Agents might not allow members of the public, especially, IPOB members and Kanu’s supporters into, or around the Court premises in a bid to avoid a security breach and/or clash.

Already, the Directorate of Security Services, DSS, seemingly the prosecuting agency, to show it needs to control the expected crowd, has issued accreditation to a few Media Houses for the coverage of Kanu’s appearance.

Meanwhile, IPOB members has asked the FG to build more prisons and cemeteries as they intend to be in Abuja to watch the trial.

But Ejimakor, faulting the alleged stand of the DSS, in a press statement he issued on Sunday, July 25, 2021, warned that the trial should not be restricted, so long as those coming to witness it come in peace, as it is not a secret trial. He said:

“Kanu’s trial is an open trial not a secret trial, and he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, anybody wishing to be associated with his trial by being present in Abuja is protected by his Constitutional right to freedom of association and movement.”

Ejimakor emphasised that while he was not calling on people or Kanu’s supporters to throng Abuja for the hearing on Monday it’s important to state that anybody who wishes to come is not doing illegal, provided such a person comes in peace.”

“Everybody should be strictly guided by the rule of law pertinent to why Nnamdi Kanu is facing these tribulations.”

“This press statement is prompted by media reports indicating that those coming to Abuja to show solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be harassed or even arrested by security agents.

“Let me make it clear that while I am not calling on people or Kanu’s supporters to throng Abuja for the hearing on Monday, it’s important to state that anybody who wishes to come is not doing anything illegal, provided such a person comes in peace.

“Kanu’s trial is an open trial, not a secret trial and he’s presumed innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, anybody wishing to be associated with his trial by being present in Abuja is protected by his Constitutional right to freedom of association and movement.

“So, my message to all supporters of Kanu and even to Nigerian government is simple and that is: Everybody should be strictly guided by the rule of law pertinent to why Nnamdi Kanu is facing these tribulations and trials.

“That pertinent rule of law is clearly codified by CAP A9, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, where it is stated at Article 20 that:

‘All peoples shall have the right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen’.

“Above is the fulcrum of every other crime the Nigerian government is alleging against Kanu. Therefore, once government recognizes that the enterprise upon which Kanu is engaged is expressly recognized or protected by laws, it will see that dialogue, not trials and violence, is the only legal pathway to containing it.

“I am saying this because the same Law that protects self determination also requires the government to accommodate it. Article 1 of that Law provides that Nigeria ‘shall recognise the rights, duties and freedoms enshrined in the Charter and shall undertake to adopt legislative or other measures to give effect to them.’

“Further, subjecting Kanu to any trial under the circumstances of his extraordinary rendition will face lots of legal challenges. Where the government missed its way is believing that it can suppress the desire for self determination by means of punishment of some sort. History teaches that taking such a path ultimately proves fruitless,

“So, what is expected on Monday is not a trial in terms of taking evidence but a procedural routine Lawyers call ‘taking a plea’ or a re-arraignment on the amended Charges that might be brought.

“Should that happen, the procedure permits taking an adjournment to study the new Charges for the purpose of advising the defendant on the next steps.

“So, there’s nothing significant that will happen on Monday that warrants anybody, incjuding the government, to be jittery.”

Kanu is making his second appearance in Court since after he was re-arrested in Nairobi, Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria.

He disappeared from Nigeria while on a Court granted bail when Federal Troops, inexplicably invaded his father’s Palace where he was. A number of people were, allegedly, killed. Kanu escaped with his parents who, sadly, both died in exile. Their bodies were brought back home and buried same day. Kanu was not at the funeral.

He reappeared in 2019 at a Synagogue in Israel. From there, he went back to Britain, which citizen he is. On return to Britain, he continued to pursue, vigorously, his struggle for an independent Biafra which would comprise of all Igbo speaking Nigeria.

He had cautiously avoided Nigeria, until his fateful trip to Kenya where he was arrested. He has been in the custody of the DSS since then.