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Tag: Nnamdi Kanu

Gov Mbah Engages Tinubu, Discusses Release of Nnamdi Kanu
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has opened conversations on the release of the self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu requesting President Bola Tinubu to give the matter utmost consideration to extend hand of fellowship to the South-East people.
Mbah told State House correspondents after a private meeting with the President on Thursday that among the issues discussed was the possible release of the secessionist agitator who has had series of favorable court judgement over his prosecution.
The governor said Kanu’s release will engender national healing process, already begun by the President.
He expressed the hope that the President would give a favorable consideration to the request.
Mbah also disclosed that he also appealed for the assistance of the Federal Government to explore the abundant mineral resources in Enugu State for the benefit of the people.
Addressing State House correspondents after his meeting with the President, the Enugu governor said, “We have a number of dominant assets in Enugu which we believe partnering with the Federal Government, we’re able to transform them into productive assets.
“A lot of people do not know but we have huge mineral resources in a new group. And these resources are sitting under our ground not being productive. So, we believe with the partnership we’re trying to basically build with the Federal Government, we’re able to transform these assets into productive assets.
“Of course, you know that the growth level we have proposed is one that is going to be driven by private sector and private sector want the ease of doing business and one of the core indicators of the ease of doing business is security and infrastructure.
“So, we also had that conversation with Mr. President. We have made a very strong announcement. We’ve banned sit-at-home on Mondays in Enugu. And obviously, what that means is that we will, of course, need to, you know, heighten our security, tackle the challenges that would flow from that, and, you know, essentially that’s what I have come to do.
“And finally, we also of course, talked about the release of Nnamdi Kanu. You know, that the South East has made a collective demand to have Nnamdi Kanu released. And we basically identified with that and request Mr. President, who in his inaugural address promised the people that he’s going to engender national healing and he’s going to serve with compassion.
“So, we’ve basically informed him that this would serve as a pointer to his administration’s extension of hands of fellowship.”
June 8, 2023
Gov Soludo Congratulates Tinubu, Seeks Kanu’s release
Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has congratulated the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the newly-elected governors.
He also made case for release of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who had been in detention since he was arrested and brought in from Kenya over two years ago
The Anambra governor, who also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for conducting a good election, noted that the country must continue to reform and strengthen its electoral processes and citizens’ political participation in her march towards a more perfect system.
In a statement yesterday, Soludo said that beyond the elections, the insecurity ravaging the South-East should be of concern to all.
Consequently, he called on Tinubu to quickly release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, immediately after his swearing-in.
Soludo said: “The 2023 general election in Nigeria has come and gone. To me, the true heroes of the last elections are the citizens of Nigeria, especially the youths, whose voices will continue to be critical as we collectively strive to build a new Nigeria. Nigeria is the winner, and I am confident that a better future lies ahead of us.
“Let me also congratulate the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his election. We congratulate your closest opponents for their courageous and impressive outing.
“Nigeria needs healing and restructuring, and the fundamental challenges of insecurity and the economy remain humongous. We pledge to collaborate and partner with you and the Federal Government for the development of Anambra State and Nigeria. This is the only country that we call ours and we must make it work.”
He called on all those who feel aggrieved about the elections to take relevant steps in recovering their mandate by following the due process of approaching the court.
Soludo added: “In this regard, may I repeat my previous calls and hereby request our president-elect to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately after swearing-in (that is, if he is not released before then). We need him around the table as an important stakeholder in discussions about healing and sustainable peace in the South-East.
“While our efforts with the security agencies are yielding significant results, we believe that sustainable peace and security will be enhanced through wider non-kinetic engagements with all critical stakeholders.”
March 22, 2023
Nnamdi Kanu files N20bn suit against AGF Malami over alleged defamation
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over an alleged defamatory publication.
Through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu accused the AGF of defaming him by claiming he jumped bail.
He went on to demand N20bn for damages.
Ejimakor, who shared copies of the suit on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Jan. 17, noted that Malami’s ”defamatory publication” was injurious to Kanu’s pending cases.
Ejimakor tweeted, “Last week, I filed a Suit against AGF Malami to stop him from making any further defamatory publication that Onyendu #MNK jumped bail. Such publication is highly prejudicial & injurious to MNK’s other cases pending in various courts. It has to stop!”
In the suit, Kanu demanded, “a declaration of this Honorable Court that, in view of the said Judgment of Abia State High Court, the Defendant’s published statements or utterances to the effect that Claimant jumped bail, as published in the said Vanguard newspaper publication, are libelous and defamatory;
“An order of this Honourable Court directing the Defendant to retract the said Vanguard newspaper publication through another press statement to the Vanguard newspaper;
“An order of this Honorable Court directing the Defendant to write and deliver to the Claimant, an unreserved letter of apology. The letter of apology shall be prominently and boldly published full-page in two Nigerian Newspapers of national circulation, namely: Guardian Newspaper and Sun Newspaper.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from further and forever uttering the said defamatory and libelous words about or concerning the Claimant;
“An order of this Honorable Court directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimant the sum of N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira only) being general and exemplary damages.”
January 17, 2023
Soludo Negotiates Nnamdi Kanu’s Release, Offers Himself as Surety
Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, on Saturday, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of the embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor also offered to act as a surety for the IPOB leader who remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).
This comes days after former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, similarly offered to stand as Kanu’s surety if granted bail again.
Soludo, who spoke at a rally in Akwa, Anambra State to launch the national campaign of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), underscored the need for critical conversations on the degenerating security situation in the South-East involving all major stakeholders.
“I now want to appeal and plead and request and demand of the Federal Government and our able president led by President Buhari that a critical person [is] required around that table for that conversation to be complete for us to have an all-round approach to dealing with the issue of insecurity and discussing the future of the South-East.
“That person – and we need him urgently around the table, please release him to us – and that is Nnamdi Kanu. I’m calling on the Federal Government to please release Nnamdi Kanu,” he said.
The wife of the late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, could be seen applauding the governor and wearing a wide grin.
According to Soludo, the South-East needs Kanu at the table, saying the people of the region are prepared for a “comprehensive, heart-to-heart conversation” about the future, security, and prosperity of the geopolitical zone.
“No one should be left behind; everybody should be there. If we cannot release him unconditionally as requested by the court judgements and so on, I now offer to be the surety. Release him to me. I will keep him. Release Nnamdi Kanu to me.
“I will keep him. I will provide him shelter and anytime that you need him, we will bring him to you. Give him to me, we will house him here in Awka. Let us release him and let us bring this insecurity in the South-East to an end,” the governor said.
On October 13, 2022, a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja acquitted and discharged Kanu from terrorism charges but the Federal Government appealed the decision and the court granted the government’s request to stop the execution of the judgment freeing the IPOB leader.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria governor appreciated the President for the support of the security agencies in tackling insecurity in the region.
“But here is the big one: as the security says, we need kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to solve this problem. We thank you for all the kinetic in terms of the force,” he said.
“We have also inaugurated the Truth, Justice, and Peace Committee in Anambra to go to the root causes, immediate and remote causes of the insecurity in the South-East, and that commission is completing its work.
“We’re also engaging the youths and implementing various forms of non-kinetic engagement. But it is now time for the Federal Government to help us with the last leg of this non-kinetic approach.”
January 14, 2023
Is Nnamdi Kanu dying in custody? IPOB warns FG
The Indigenous People of Biafra has accused the Federal Government of “systematically” killing its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The pro-Biafran group said it was high time the whole world spoke against the atrocity going on in the DSS Abuja dungeon against the leader of the IPOB.
It also claimed that the Federal Government had deliberately planned to eliminate Kanu, at the DSS solitary confinement.
These were contained in a statement made available to journalists by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Saturday.
The statement read, “The Federal Government has deliberately planned to eliminate Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is illegally detained in DSS solitary confinement.
“Kanu is battling heart problems and some mineral deficiencies which require medical specialists’ attention, but the Federal Government has refused to release him as the courts have ordered and has not allowed him access to his personal physicians.
“Instead, they have resorted to patronising roadside pharmacies for his drug, which we see as a systematic and gradual diminishing of his life and final elimination method.
“A few days ago, IPOB legal team members and a brother of Kanu visited him in the DSS custody where he informed them that the DSS agents have not given him his prescribed drugs for nine days and more. More so, the DSS hasn’t given him food for some days, claiming that they don’t have money for his food and drugs. How preposterous!
“We, the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, therefore, call on the Federal Government to release Kanu immediately if they can’t afford his medications and food.
“IPOB is more than capable to provide for our leader the best medical services in the world and can give him any food of his choice, but it is their responsibility to ensure that he feeds well with good medical attention because they have illegally keeping him in prison. IPOB will not take it lightly with them if anything untoward happens to him. They cannot succeed breaking him down.
“We, in IPOB, understand the recent actions of the DSS as a plot to systematically diminish and finally kill Kanu by starving him of his drugs and food. But we wish to remind the Nigeria government and all who are remotely interested in Nigeria to bear in mind that IPOB and in fact Biafrans will wage unending wars with the Nigerian state if anything untoward happens to Kanu.
“This is not a threat but a promise that generations of Biafrans must keep even after Biafra Nation has been restored. Several times, we have called on Mallam Abubakar Malami and his collaborators to release Kanu as the courts of competent jurisdictions have ordered.
“More so, the United Nations Working Group gave directives for Kanu to be released and be compensated by this Nigeria government, but Malami, the Fulani cabals, and other self-seeking politicians have refused to obey court verdicts.”
December 18, 2022
Sit-At-Home: Allow Nnamdi Kanu address media – HURIWA to Buhari
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to allow the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, to address the media to put an end to the confusion surrounding the sit-at-home order in the South East.
This is following a series of skirmishes and targeted violence and attacks masterminded by some armed supporters of the Finland-based Simon Ekpa.
People living and doing business in the South East have been under siege in recent months as they cannot go about their legitimate businesses.
The IPOB’s leadership has, on many occasions, distanced itself from any sit-at-home, urging Nigerians living in the zone to go about their legitimate business but that has not stopped the killing of people in the South East in the name of sit-at-home.
There have been stories of killings and maiming of innocent Nigerians who alter the sit-at-home order for one reason or the other, as the South East is shut down every Monday and on other occasions.
And now HURIWA, through a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, is calling on Buhari to let Kanu personally address the media affirming and categorically confirming the suspension of the sit-at-home order.
HURIWA has also criticised the law enforcement agents and the Department of State Services for the failure of intelligence to nip in the bud the dozens of bloody attacks effectively.
HURIWA accused the Police and the other security agencies in the South East of being happy watching the commoners being decimated, degraded and almost on the verge of being wiped off the earth.
“The President should let Mazi Nnamdi Kanu speak to Igbo people to affirm or deny the report by his lawyers that he had ordered an end to the Sit-at-home order which one Mr. Simon Ekpa an alleged follower of the detained leader disputed and ordered for forceful implementation of the so called Sit-at-home order,” HURIWA pleaded.
The group further pointed out that a live television broadcast by Kanu on the confusion surrounding the sit-at-home order would assuage the suspended animation and suspicions “by some persons loyal to Simon Ekpa that Nnamdi Kanu did not order an end to the economically stagnating sit-at-home order in the South East of Nigeria.
“Secondly, just as was done in Ukraine, President Muhammadu Buhari should democratise arms licences so sane adult Nigerians can bear AK-47 and AK-49.
“If President Muhammadu Buhari is not the sponsor of the chaos in the South-East then let his government adopt a pragmatic approach such as permitting that Kanu addresses the media as a matter of extreme urgency to put an end to these killings,” it said.
December 13, 2022
Again, Kanu drags Malami to Court, Files N20bn Suit
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has slammed another N20billion suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, stated that the AGF defamed the IPOB leader when he claimed that the latter jumped bail, and had asked for N20bn for damages.
This is coming barely four days after the initial N20bn suit filed by Kanu against Malami was discontinued.
The first suit dated September 23, had sought “a declaration that the defendants’ arrest and imprisonment of the plaintiff (Kanu) at a location in Kenya and the subsequent imprisonment of the plaintiff in the aircraft that conveyed him from Kenya to Nigeria amounted to false arrest and false imprisonment.”
However, in the latest suit dated November 21, Kanu demanded compensation following alleged defamatory and libellous claims against him.
The suit was contained in letter sent to Malami titled, “RE: Pre-action notice and formal demand for settlement of the claim of defamation/libel of the character of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu grounded on your false, defamatory and libelous publications that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail.”
Sharing copies of the document on his Twitter page on Tuesday, Ejimakor said, “Yesterday, I served on AGF Malami a Legal Notice (as required by law), notifying him of my intention to take legal action against him for his defamatory & libelous statements that #MNK jumped bail.”
Kanu, through his lawyer, said Malami’s claim that he jumped bail despite a court order clearing him was libellous.
Condemning Malami’s remark, Ejimakor said in the letter, “In view of the said judgment of the Abia State High Court, your above utterances were false, malicious and reckless and they were read and heard worldwide and portrayed our Client in light.”
According to the letter, Kanu demanded “the sum of N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira only) being general and exemplary damages;
“An unreserved personal letter of apology, to be prominently and boldly published full-page in two Nigerian Newspapers of national circulation, namely: Guardian Newspaper and Sun Newspaper.
“You shall write and deliver to your superior officer(s) and/or your employer(s) a Legal Opinion to the effect that our Client did not jump bail in view of the 19th January 2022 Judgment of the High Court of Abia State.”
November 22, 2022
Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s N20bn Suit Against Malami
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court (FHC), on Friday, struck out a N20 billion suit filed by leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN.
Mr Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, had sued Mr Malami and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, as 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, struck out the suit after I.C. Nworgu, who appeared for the IPOB leader, told the court that the plaintiff had resolved to withdraw the suit.
Mr Nworgu said the notice of discontinuance had already been filed.
The application, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1702/2022, was filed pursuant to Order 50, Rules 2(1) of the FHC Civil Procedure Rules, 2019.
Mr Ekwo had, on October 27, fixed Friday for hearing in the suit.
The application, dated and filed on Sept. 23, had sought “a declaration that the defendants’ arrest and imprisonment of the plaintiff (Kanu) at a location in Kenya and the subsequent imprisonment of the plaintiff in the aircraft that conveyed him from Kenya to Nigeria amounted to false arrest and false imprisonment.
“A declaration of this honourable court that the defendants acted in bad faith and/or abused their public offices in falsely arresting and falsely imprisoning the plaintiff at the said location in Kenya and said aircraft.
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to, jointly and severally, pay to the plaintiff the sum of N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira only) being general and exemplary damages.
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendants to separately write and deliver to the plaintiff, an unreserved personal letter of apology.”
He prayed that the letters of apology shall be prominently and boldly published full-page in two Nigerian newspapers of national circulation.
He also sought an order of the court, directing the defendants to pay the cost of the suit, among others.
November 19, 2022
Court Session: Why Kanu Was Absent – DSS
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), failed to show up at a federal high court in Abuja on Monday.
Kanu is being prosecuted on charges of terrorism.
When the case was called, Mohammed Abubakar, prosecution counsel from the office of the attorney-general, said Kanu refused to appear before the court.
“He has declined to come to court,” he said.
I. Awo, counsel to the Department of State Security (DSS), said Kanu woke up and refused to come to court.
“The defendant was intimated about today’s court session,” Awo said.
“I called the office to find out why and they said he woke up this morning and objected that he was not going to come to court.”
Mike Ozekhome, Kanu’s counsel, said the last time he spoke with his client, the IPOB leader expressed enthusiasm to be present in court.
“We are therefore surprised that that the same person has refused to come to court,” he said.
Binta Nyako, presiding judge, said the presence of the accused person was not necessary for the day’s proceedings since the matter was adjourned for parties in the suit to give a report on the status of the case.
After the parties briefed the court on the verdict of the court of appeal and pending appeals at the apex court, the matter was adjourned indefinitely pending the determination of the appeals.
On April 8, the trial court struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge. The court of appeal later quashed the remaining seven counts on October 13.
Delivering judgment in the appeal, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Hanatu Sankey held that the federal government flouted the Terrorism Act in violation of international conventions and treaties, hence, breaching the rights of the respondent.
The court further held that having illegally and forcefully renditioned the appellant, the trial court is stripped of jurisdiction to continue to try Kanu.
However, the federal government is yet to release the IPOB leader.
Instead, it filed an appeal before the supreme court to challenge the appeal court judgment.
It also filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the appellate court’s judgment.
Ruling on the application, the court of appeal granted the government’s request.
Kanu has also filed an appeal challenging his incarceration as well as another cross-appeal at the supreme court.
November 15, 2022
Nnamdi Kanu Missing In Court, As Judge Indefinitely Adjourns Trial
The Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned indefinitely the trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu in the terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
A team of government prosecutors led by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. M.B. Abubakar, on Monday alleged that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, refused to present himself before the Federal High Court in Abuja for his planned re-arraignment.
“My lord, I understand that the defendant declined to come to court today.
“As of last week, the defendant was intimated of this sitting and he did not object. However, when I called the office this morning, I was informed that the defendant woke up and declined to come to court.
“All entreaties and pleas were made but he refused to come to court”, the government lawyer told the court.
Kanu’s legal team, however, said the allegation was strange as Kanu had never hidden his intention to always be in court.
“My lord, this is totally strange to me because this is a person that has never hidden his intention to always be in court. In fact, even in processes we filed at both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, the defendant said he would want to be present in court for hearing of all the matters,” Kanu’s legal team head, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said.
Kanu is standing trial of amended seven counts of terrorism filed against him by the FG.
Justice Binta Nyako however, adjourned the matter indefinitely pending the resolution of the Federal Government’s appeal against the October 13 judgment of the Court of Appeal that discharged him from the terrorism charges.
November 14, 2022