The request forms one of the reliefs in a motion for a stay of execution filed yesterday before the apex court by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has alleged that the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is no longer safe in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.
The coalition raised the alarm following the recent terror alert by the United States, United Kingdom and Canada that some terrorists were planning to launch a deadly attack in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Reacting, the President General of the coalition, Goodluck Ibem in a statement yesterday, alleged that the move by the Federal government to keep Kanu in DSS custody despite a court order, “confirmed a plot to assassinate him (Kanu) using the terror attack as a cover-up to hide the involvement of some forces”.
The Appeal Court, on Friday, suspended the execution of its judgment that ordered President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to release the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In its previous ruling, IDOMA VOICE recalls that the appellate court had ordered the Federal Government to release the Biafra agitator.
The court in a unanimous decision by a three-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsunami granted the application Buhari’s government brought for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal it lodged before the Supreme Court.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday, called for immediate release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu from Department of State Services, DSS, detention.
The group called on DSS to release Kanu because the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is about to fall to sponsored terror group.
The group was reacting to the terror alert issued by the United States, United Kingdom, Canadian, and Australian embassies, on the possibility of a terrorist attack in Abuja.
The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Wednesday, ordered the Federal Government to pay N500 million damages to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for his forcible extradition and extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
Presiding Judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, who gave the judgment said that the Federal Government and its agencies grossly violated Kanu’s fundamental human rights by illegally renditioning him back to Nigeria without due process.
The court ordered the Federal Government to return the IPOB Leader to Kenya where he was before the June 19 2021 forceful disappearance from the East Africa country.
The Federal Government has once again revealed why it can’t obey the court ruling ordering the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The government told the Appeal Court in Abuja that Kanu posed a flight risk and was a threat to national security.
An Assistant State Counsel in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, David Kaswe, informed the court that the case against Kanu bordered on national security.
He argued that the fundamental rights of the IPOB leader should be suspended due to national interest.
Supreme Court will today hear the appeal filed by the Federal Government to set aside the Appeal Court judgment on the treasonable felony trial that freed Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Federal Government, in the notice of appeal it hinged on seven grounds, wants the apex court to stay the execution of the judgment the appellate court delivered on October 13.
It is, among other things, arguing that the Appeal Court panel of three justices erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice when it relied on the manner Kanu was renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria to quash the entire charges against him after he jumped bail a trial court granted to him in 2017.
The Federal Government through the Appeal Court leadership has transferred three justices that sat on the panel that dismissed the 15-count terrorism charge the Federal Government instituted against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
Recall that Justices Jummai Hanatu Sankey, Oludotun Adetope-Okojie and Ebiowei Tobi had faulted the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for ‘abducting’ the IPOB Leader from Kenya.
Delivering the lead judgement on October 13th, Justice Oludotun Adebola ruled that the Federal Government breached all local and international laws in the forceful rendition of Kanu to Nigeria thereby making the terrorism charges against him incompetent and unlawful.
The justices voided and set aside the charges by the Federal Government against Kanu.
The Appellate Court proceeded to discharge Kanu from the alleged offences.
Justice Adebola held that the failure of Nigeria to follow due process by way of Extradition was fatal to the charges against Kanu.
United States-based Special Counsel to the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Bruce Fein, has petitioned the US Senate and House of Representatives Committee Chairmen, seeking sanctions against President Muhammadu Buhari; and the Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami.
This online news understands that Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer is seeking sanction for the duo for the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu despite an Appeal Court judgement ordering the release of the IPOB leader.
The letter was captioned: “RE: Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act: Recommending President Joe Biden to impose sanctions against Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerian Attorney General Abubakar Malami for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights against Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu, including kidnapping, torture, and prolonged arbitrary detention to retaliate for exercising internationally recognized rights to freedom of expression and association.”
The IPOB leader’s lawyer asked the legislature to prevail on US President Joe Biden to impose severe sanctions on Buhari and Malami for flouting both the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Opinion and the Nigerian appeal court judgement ordering the immediate release of Kanu.
This online newspaper understands that it has asked the apex court to stay the execution of the October 13 Court of Appeal judgment that freed the leader of the separatist group.
Nnamdi Kanu‘s legal team has issued a formal notice of release to the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Director General of the State Security Service, demanding the immediate release of their client.
The legal team, led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), issued the formal notice dated October 17, 2022. In the notice shared on Tuesday by IPOB’s lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor on his Facebook handle, The team urged the AGF and DG of DSS to immediately comply with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
There are indications that the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, may affect the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the Southeast.
Deji Adeyanju, an Abuja-based rights activist, said Kanu’s release may affect the momentum of the 2023 elections in the Southeast.
Recall that an Appeal Court in Abuja had ordered Kanu’s release after discharging and acquitting him of all terrorism charges.
Following the ruling, there has been mixed reactions that Kanu’s release and continued detention may affect the 2023 elections in the Southeast.
However, Adeyanju said Kanu might never order his followers to vote or support any politician if released.
The South East Caucus in the Senate has called on the Federal Government to obey the ruling of the Appeal Court and discharge the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The caucus, comprising eleven Senators, made the call in a statement issued and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
The Appeal Court last week acquitted and discharged the IPOB leader of terrorism charges leveled against him by the Federal government.
However, Kanu who was re-arrested from Kenya in June 2021, is still in the custody of the Department of State Services as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami insisted that he was only discharged but yet to be acquitted.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has reacted to the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday quashing the terrorism charges against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, saying that Kanu was only discharged by the court but not acquitted.
In a statement signed and released Thursday night by Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu, the AGF the court’s decision was on a single issue that borders on rendition.
The statement added that there were other issues predating Kanu’s rendition “on the basis of which Kanu jumped bail” which remained “valid issues for judicial determination.”
It further stated that the FG would continue to pursue determination of pre-rendition issues while considering all available options on the judgement on rendition.
The statement read, “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has received the news of the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. For the avoidance of doubt and by the verdict of the Court, Kanu was only discharged and not acquitted.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has been discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.
The Court of Appeal on Thursday upheld the appeal of the IPOB leader.
The development was confirmed by the counsel to Kanu and human rights activist, Ifeanyi Ejiofor in a post on his Facebook page.
Ejiofor wrote, “Appeal allowed, Oyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU, discharged and acquitted. We have won!.”
Kanu had in his appeal dated April 29 and marked CA/ABJ/CR/625/2022, applied to be discharged and acquitted.
The IPOB leader was first arraigned on December 23, 2015, and was later granted bail on April 25, 2017.
Embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has been diagnosed with gastrointestinal disorder.
This was disclosed by his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
In a statement on Monday, Ejiofor said the development followed a persistent heartburn earlier experienced by the secessionist.
According to the lawyer, despite the order of Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja that Kanu should be given serious medical attention, the Department of State Services, DSS has been acting on the contrary.
He raised the alarm shortly after visiting the IPOB leader at the DSS Headquarters in Abuja on Monday.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied involvement in the recent killing of an Islamic cleric in Ebonyi State.
A Muslim cleric, who hails from Ebonyi State and converted to the Muslim faith, Sheikh Ibrahim Iyiorji, was recently murdered in the state by unidentified gunmen.
Speculations were that the IPOB might be responsible for the murder, but the group said killing Muslims was not part of its mandate.
The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has received his legal team while in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
According to reports, Kanu expressed optimism that the terrorism charges levelled against him would be quashed by the Court of Appeal.
The legal team which was on a routine visit was granted by Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja and was led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and some members of Kanu’s family.
Speaking in a statement on Friday after the visit, Ejiofor disclosed that Kanu was in high spirits and confident that the case would end well for him.
“The court-ordered routine visit to our client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has just been concluded at the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, where he is still being held in solitary confinement for over 14 months.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, has revealed what the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, wants.
According to Sowore, all the pro-Biafra leader wants is justice.
Sowore said the “torture” being meted out to Kanu was the reason why Nigeria as a country “was not progressing nor peaceful” under the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
Sowore stated this in a statement after attending the hearing of Kanu’s case at the Appeal Court in Abuja.
“Today, I attended the continued trial of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja. I met his lawyers, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Aloy Ejimakor and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and many others as they concluded arguments asking the appellate judges to quash the remaining charges against Kanu.
Biafra: Court set to give judgement on Nnamdi Kanu’s suit against FG
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved the judgment in the appeal filed by the leader of outlawed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu challenging the seven charges against him by the Federal Government.
Kanu had filed the appeal through his lawyer Mike Ozekhome.
He is facing charges bordering on terrorism and treasonable felony.
Ebonyi State Police command yesterday said that 20 suspected hoodlums in the guise of the proscribed Eastern Security Network, ESN, who invaded the Ebonyi divisional police headquarters, Ugbodo and opened fire on the police personnel on duty, killing an inspector and a sergeant have been arrested.
The suspects arrested includes Chimezie Emeh, Anthony Joseph Osilame, Peter OziokoEgbunike and Ifeanyi Okoro Emetu
Others include, Longinus Obinna Idenyi, OgbonnayaNeankwo, H Mezie, Eze JoshueNnabuike adding that vehicles recovered includes Toyota Corolla LE, Toyota Camry 2.2 model, Toyota Camry (Tiny Light) and Toyota Sienna 2000 model.
Others are Toyota Corolla DS, Toyota Camry Spider and a yellow Toyota mini-bus without registration number
The Indigenous People of Biafra has declared Tuesday, September 13, as sit-at-home in the South-East.
The pro-Biafran group stated that the directive was in solidarity with its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who will be appearing in court on that day.
They insisted that there shall be a total lockdown of the whole five states in the South-East for two reasons: Kanu’s court appearance and the visit of the President, Major General Muhammad Buhari to Owerri, Imo State.
The lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Wednesday said that the case between the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and the Federal government has been brought forward to 13th September 2022 from the earlier date of 11th October 2022 at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Ejiofor disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, while speaking on the change of date.
He attributed the change of date to the continuous prayers by the members of IPOB.
According to IPOB’s lawyer, “Our Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CR/ 625/2022; between Nnamdi Kanu vs federal republic of Nigeria, earlier scheduled for Hearing on the 11th Day of October, 2022, has been brought forward to the 13th day of September 2022.
Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS on Sunday released Ukamaka Ejezie popularly called Mama Biafra, a woman alleged to be the foster mother of the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
Mama Biafra was arrested during Kanu’s last court appearance in Abuja on May 18 and has been in detention since then.
Kanu who confirmed that the Septuagenarian had been acting as his mother since his parents died in 2020 said he saw the woman in DSS.
Police operatives in Imo on Friday raided a suspected camp of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its arm wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the state.
The spokesman for the state police command, Michael Abattam, who disclosed this in a statement in Owerri, said five suspected members of the group were killed and several others injured in the raid.
He added that three police operatives were injured in the operation.
Abattam said that the raid was carried out following credible information on the clandestine activities of the group at Izombe in Oguta local government area of the state.
He said: “The hoodlums, who on sighting the police operatives, engaged them in a gun battle.
“However, they were overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the gallant police operatives.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked residents of the Southeast to bury their dead ones within three days to avert what it called ancestral curses.
It said it has been discovered that keeping corpses in the mortuary for too long is the bane of Ndigbo in all material circumstances.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said it was not the culture of the Igbo to keep corpses for a long time before burial.
It insisted that bereaved families should be allowed to commit their dead ones to mother earth while a date for the burial ceremony could be fixed for a later date.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has slammed Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State’s claim that he stopped the sit-at-home order in the state.
However, IPOB faulted Uzodinma,saying could not stop the sit-at-home order because he never initiated it.
Emma Powerful, the spokesperson of IPOB, said the group cancelled the sit-at-home order on the advice of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Activist Adeyanju has revealed how he secretly and openly advised the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu to get involved in politics, so as to enable him to install all five sitting Governors in South-East which will be a major step to achieve Biafra Republic.
In his words, Deji said, “After Nnamdi Kanu was released from prison, I was the first person to secretly and openly advise him to become interested in politics and ensure he installs all the 5 Governors in the SE as that will be the first major step of actualizing Biafra.
“They insulted me, saying I was an enemy paid by the Govt to destabilize Biafra. Today, IPOB folks that we all know on social media are all suddenly interested in elections. They never listen and hate criticism of any kind.”
The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Lauretta Onochie has revealed how the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, coordinated the 2020 End SARS protest in 2022.
Sharing a video evidence on her official Twitter handle on Friday, Onochie alleged that Nnamdi Kanu gave the order and coordinated the attacks.
She wrote, “To think that the blood stained flag some youth and some not-so-youth, have been promoting proudly, is an insignia and creation of the proscribed IPOB’s Nnamdi Kanu.
“He also gave the order and coordinated the carnage that happened in Lagos during the ANTI SARS protest.”
Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has given an update on the condition of his principal in the Department of State Services, DSS, detention.
Ejimakor likened Kaduna’s condition to the Biblical rock of Gibraltar.
Ejimakor said Kanu remained strong despite being locked up by the
He said Kanu is happy with the support from followers and the United Nations, UN.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has rubbished reports claiming Mazi Chika Edoziem has replaced Nnamdi Kanu as the leader of the proscribed group.
The Biafra group asked its followers to ignore the reports, adding that Nnamdi Kanu remains the leader.
These were made known in a statement by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Tuesday.
According to Powerful, Mazi Chika Edoziem is the head of the IPOB Directorate of State and not IPOB Acting Leader.
Biafra: IPOB names Chika Edoziem as Nnamdi Kanu’s replacement
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has announced Mazi Chika Edoziem as its new leader.
IPOB said Edoziem would pilot its affairs until its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is released.
A statement by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said Edoziem would relinquish the leadership role to Kanu when he is released.
The statement reads partly: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra (DOS), headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, is at the helm of affairs of the Biafra movement; whenever our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU comes out, he hands over IPOB structure back to him.”
Biafra: Nigerian govt told to comply with UN recommendations on Kanu
The South East Revival Group (SERG) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately comply with the resolutions of the United Nations, UN, Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, on the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to avert a fresh war front, amid the current insecurity in most parts of the country.
The UN recently indicted both the Nigerian and Kenyan Governments for the extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of Kanu without due process.
Consequently, the UN agreed and recommended to the Federal Government to immediately release Kanu unconditionally.
However, in a statement signed by the President and National Coordinator of the SERG, Chief Willy Ezugwu, at the weekend, the group called on the Government to be responsible and reasonable in handling the recommendations of the UN as part of the bitter pills Nigeria must take to reduce armed struggle in the country.
The Indigenous People of Biafra has reacted to the report that there are factions within the group.
In a statement on Tuesday, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, insisted that Nnamdi Kanu remains the group’s only leader, adding that any persons claiming to be IPOB autopilot group is fake and should be ignored.
Powerful said IPOB has constantly announced that Simon Ekpa is not an IPOB member and people should disregard whatever he says in the group’s name.
Family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has lauded the United Nations, UN, for indicting Nigeria and Kenya in the arrest and detention of the separatist leader.
According to reports, the United Nations, UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, indicted both Nigerian and Kenyan governments for the arrest and extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of Kanu without due process
The UN demanded that the Nigerian Government immediately release the secessionist unconditionally and pay him adequate compensations for violating his human rights.
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has called for the immediate disbanding of Ebube Agu Security outfit in Imo State over what it called an atrocious murder committed by them under the watch of Governor Hope Uzodinma.
While condemning the killing of 14 defenceless youths from Otulu town who were returning from a traditional marriage, MASSOB said the Ebube Agu operatives had not engaged marauding terrorists and herdsmen who had sacked so many villages and settlements but they were instead killing innocent youths.
MASSOB in a statement issued by Uchenna Madu, on Tuesday, said the killings in Otulu community were one of the several secret killings of “our people by Governor Hope Uzodinma-backed Ebubeagu.”
The statement partly read, “They are primarily established as a witch-hunting outfit to fight political enemies and non-violent pro-Biafra agitators. MASSOB described Ebube Agu security outfit as a dracula evil and agents of death established by the Imo State Government.
“MASSOB warns Governor Hope Uzodinma to immediately disband his Ebubeagu security outfit now or we shall see their activities in Biafra land as a declaration of internal war. The so-called Ebubeagu security outfit must cease their operation in Imo State now.”
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has commended the Benue State Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom over his call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Governor Ortom had during a meeting with a group under the aegis of American Veterans of Igbo origin in Washington DC, USA on Wednesday, called for the release of the secessionist.
Reacting, the coalition of Igbo youth groups, said Ortom’s call has shown that “he is a man of justice and fairness who always stands firmly on the side of truth at all times even when it is not convenient to do so”.
A statement issued on Friday by the President General of the coalition, Goodluck Ibem said, “Ortom has been the lone voice in the wilderness, standing firmly in defense of the downtrodden and the voiceless masses of Nigeria.
“Governor Ortom has over the years proven to be a different Governor whose primary purpose of being in governance is to work for his people and defend them including other Nigerians who are not from his state.
“Ortom is truly patriotic and his stand on national issues is because he wants to see his country be on its feet again.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called for the immediate release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, for the peace process in the country to be taken seriously.
Governor Ortom made the call when a group under the aegis of American Veterans of Igbo origin paid him a courtesy visit in Washington DC, USA on July 13th 2022.
He stated that Nnamdi Kanu’s issue is a socio-political challenge that must be dealt with politically.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, Rev. Peter Ichull from Washington, D.C. says the governor argued that even members of Boko Haram who pose a greater threat to the country’s unity have often been freed, resettled and some integrated into the armed forces.
Governor Ortom maintained that the South East of Nigeria must be given a sense of belonging to erase the impression of persecution of a section of the country.
Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi has said the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labour Party presidential candidate for 2023 election has brought relative peace to the South-East.
In a statement he posted on his Facebook page, the cleric said the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB’s support for Obi has indicated that the Biafra agitation is political.
Linking the current security crisis in the country to lack of representation, he said the Oduduwa agitation has also slowed down following the hope that the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu would emerge president.
The statement reads partly, “The IPOB rhetoric and loud voice of Biafra agitations have muffled out with the emergence of Peter Obi as the Labor Party presidential candidate. To them, Igbos have a platform. It’s clear now that the entire IPOB outcry was a political gimmick to get power.
“The Oduduwa clamours have abated also since Tinubu has clinched the APC ticket never to resurface again until probably if he didn’t win the race.
“Northern Ultra conservatives too have no mouth to speak of marginalization or suppression of representation, the NNPP kwankwaso has satisfied that segment of the society. No more claims of candidate suppression and manipulation.”
According to him, the major problem of the country now is whether the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, “will conduct free, fair, and transparent elections” in 2023.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said the federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari is not ready to release leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
The apex sociocultural Igbo group was reacting refusal of Abuja High court to grant the leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu bail.
Reacting, the National Vice Chairman of the group, Damian Okeke Ogene, said it has now become very clear to them that President Muhammadu Buhari meant all he had said about his unwillingness to release Kanu.Ogene, who warned against the consequences of refusal to release Kanu, recalled that in different public fora, Buhari had uttered negative statements concerning the release of Kanu as if he had committed heinous crimes against God and humanity.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted the trial of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu till November 14.
Kanu is currently facing terrorism charges before the court.
Kanu is, however, to remain in the custody of the Department of State Service, DSS, till the date since the shift in trial was at his instance.
The trial was put on hold by Justice Binta Nyako following the appeal instituted against the high court order upholding seven count charges against Kanu.
Justice Nyako had dismissed 8 out of 15 count charges brought against Kanu by the Federal Government and ordered his trial in the remaining 7 counts.
In a short ruling, Justice Nyako upheld arguments of Ozekhome and shifted further trial till November 14 to await the outcome of the Court of Appeal decision.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a fresh application the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, filed to be released on bail, pending the determination of the treasonable felony charge the Federal Government preferred against him.
Kanu, who is currently facing a seven-count charge, had in the application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, equally challenge the revocation of the bail the court earlier granted to him.
He specifically urged the court to set aside the order it made on March 28, 2019, which not only issued a bench warrant for his arrest, but also gave FG the nod to try him in absentia.
The IPOB leader told the court that contrary to FG’s allegation that he jumped bail, he said that he fled for his life after his home town at Afaraukwu Ibeku in Umuahia, Abia State, was invaded by soldiers, which he said led to the death of 28 persons.
Contending that he was denied fair hearing before his bail was revoked, Kanu, attached eight exhibits that included photographs, as well as an affidavit he deposed to from Isreal after he fled from the country.
Biafra: Buhari reveals why Nnamdi Kanu won’t be granted bail
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, ruled out bail for the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
He said Kanu, who is currently on trial, was being given every opportunity under the law “to justify all the uncomplimentary things said against Nigeria while he was in Britain.”
This was as he reiterated his commitment to leave office for the next administration in May 2023.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said this at a bilateral meeting with the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on the margins of the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
The statement was titled ‘Another term for me? No! The first person who tried it didn’t end very well.’
Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu sends message to unknown gunmen in Southeast
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said the days of unknown gunmen terrorising the Southeast are numbered.
He stated this during his routine meeting with his legal team led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor at the facility of the Department of State Services, DSS, on Thursday and was contained in a statement he signed.
Kanu said the unknown gunmen have no connections with IPOB, adding that they are criminals.
The statement by Ejiofor reads: “We seized the opportunity offered by the visit to brief Onyendu (Nnamdi Kanu) of the barbaric act of the criminal gangs who kidnapped my aunty a week ago, and her subsequent release.
“It is pertinent to note that the criminal gangs, who engaged in this sacrilegious act, in active connivance with some locals have nothing to do with IPOB.
“They are purely criminals who would soon be apprehended. To this end, Onyendu declared that the days of these monsters are numbered.”
80-year-old Mrs Ukamaka Ejezie popularly known as Mama Biafra who is allegedly in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, is currently battling with severe heart infection and breathing difficulty according to a statement issued by IPOB leader’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
The Octogenarian was reportedly arrested during Kanu’s court appearance in Abuja on May 18, the IPOB boss, Ejezie had been acting as his mother since his parents died in 2020.
Ejiofor, according to the statement on Tuesday said he learnt the new development during his routine visit to Kanu at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Monday, and called on the international community to prevail on the federal government to release the old woman.
“We were reliably informed during this visit, that Mrs. Ukamaka Ejezie, Onyendu’s 80-year old adopted mother, who is still in the captivity of the DSS, is presently down with severe heart infection and could rarely breathe. Hence, we are calling on the World to prevail on the Nigerian Government, to ensure the immediate release of the octogenarian Great grandmother, who committed no offence by merely coming to court in solidarity with her adopted son, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, during his last Court appearance,” the statement reads in parts.
Alexander Madeibo, the former Chief of Army Staff of Biafra, has passed away at 90.
His death was announced on Friday by a member of his family who expressed sadness over his loss.
The statement read, “We are sad to announce the passing of General Alexander Madiebo, Chief of Staff of the Biafran Army and the last of the 3 titans. He was 90.”
“For condolence call please contact Chuka Madiebo (281)258-6731, Uchenna Madiebo 2348033434338, Nwora Madiebo 2348033012184, Obi Nweke (281)701-6486”.
General Alexander Madiebo (retd.) was a commander in the Biafran Army and fought in the Nigeria-Biafra civil war.
He had his military training at the Regular Officers’ Special Training School in Teshie, Gold Coast, now Ghana.
A former chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Chief Chekwas Okorie on Wednesday said that frustrations by those who hijacked the party from him forced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to join Radio Biafra.
Okorie, who rejoined APGA under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku in Enugu from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosed that under him as the national chairman of APGA, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Uche Mefor, Egemba, among others were the party leaders in diaspora.
He said when he left the party to found the United Progressive Party(UPP) in 2012, Kanu and others quit politics to join Radio Biafra.
Okorie stated that he did not abandon APGA but was forced out after several attempts to reconcile both parties were rejected by one party
Streets and roads in Enugu metropolis were, yesterday, completely deserted as economic and social activities were grounded to mark the Biafra heroes and heroines’ day in the South East. The report is the same in Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi states.
The celebration is marked by pro-groups on May 30 every year, to pray for those who died during the 1960s Biafra-Nigeria civil war.
This year, it coincided with the Monday sit-at-home, which the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared in the fourth quarter of 2021, to put pressure on the Nigerian government to release their detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Our correspondent, who monitored the situation in Enugu, especially around T-Junction Flyover, Timber shed Market, National Open University, Trans Ekulu, Enugu, Roman Store Road, Nowas-Trans Ekulu Road, Abakpa Flyover, and T-Junction Road, among others, reported that those roads were completely deserted.
Kanunta, a brother of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has revealed why Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State failed to win Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential ticket.
According to him, the IPOB and those killed during the massacre of Obigbo were responsible for Wike’s loss at the PDP primaries.
In a tweet, Kanunta dismissed claims that Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto betrayed Wike.
According to Kanunta: “Neither the North, nor Tambuwal betrayed #Wike. Nor was it any Southern disunity.
“It was KARMA that nailed him. The Karma of #Obigbo. The #IPOB was also a factor.
“Clue: Late Buhari won despite his open support for BokoHaram.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra has denied any involvement in the killing of a pregnant woman and her four children in Anambra State.
The group said it strongly condemned the ‘abominable” act, saying that “in Igboland, it is an abomination to kill a pregnant woman. The perpetrators of the heinous crime are certainly not IPOB and could never have been”.
The pregnant woman from Adamawa State, Harira Jubril, with her four kids, was killed when unknown gunmen opened fire on the Isulo community in Orumba North Local Government Area last Sunday.
The gunmen visited two other communities on the same day and killed about five other persons.
The Orumba North LGA is among the communities that the State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has imposed a 6pm to 6am curfew on during a live broadcast on Wednesday.
Soludo described the killings as “barbaric” and “unacceptable” and vowed to fish out the perpetrators and deal with them in accordance with the law.
But the IPOB through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Friday, said, “We have always said it that the terrorists were imported into Biafra land to commit the ongoing atrocities all in an attempt to discredit our struggle, demonise IPOB and proscribe it, then lobby and bribe Britain to tag us a terror group with the hope to stop our match to freedom.”
Powerful said those involved in the “barbarity” of killing the Hausa woman and children should wait for the repercussions of the evil they committed against the innocent woman and her children.
He insisted that the criminal elements behind the killing were not IPOB and that they should be prepared to pay for their heinous crime.
He accused the military of harbouring Fulani terrorists in their barracks and giving them ID cards for identification, adding that the terrorists were transferred into the southeast territory.
The statement read in part, “IPOB has severally said that these criminal elements are not part of us and they should allow Hausa do their legitimate business in our land because Hausa too suffer the same fate we are facing in the hands of Fulani terrorists claiming they are herdsmen in Nigeria.
The Indigenous People of Biafra says it has cancelled the May 26 sit-at-home it earlier announced. The group said the move follows the postponement of the court case of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, earlier scheduled to come up on Thursday.
In a statement on Wednesday, IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, urged the people
to maintain restraint and “keep their eyes on the ball”.
Powerful said the announcement became necessary in order to notify their members both home and abroad that Kanu’s court case in Abuja on May 26, has been postponed to June 28.
It said that IPOB was informed by the Federal High Court’s registrar, through its legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, that the case was postponed because Justice Binta Nyako was indisposed.
The statement read in part, “IPOB has been informed why and what caused the sudden change of date and we accepted it, we just received the communication from the Federal High Court’s Registrar, through our legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, notifying us that the court will no longer be sitting tomorrow, May 26, 2022, on our leader’s case.
“Therefore, there will be no sit-at-home in regard to tomorrow’s case instead sit-at-home will hold on June 28, 2022
Biafra: Troops clear IPOB/ESN enclave, capture cache of arms, ammunition in Imo
Troops of 34 Brigade, Nigerian Army(NA) have captured a cache of arms and ammunition belonging to elements of the dissident group,
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed affiliate, Eastern Security Network(ESN), after a gun battle at Amaifeke-Akkatta Road in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo state.
The fire arms and ammunition were recovered during troops’ operations to clear separatists’ hideouts in the general area of Amaifeke – Akkatta road.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, who confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri, said “the Command’s Tactical Teams, on 18/5/2022 at about 0600 hours hastily mobilized when it received credible information that the native doctor who prepares charms for fortifications against bullets and knives for group has returned after fleeing the community.”
Narrating how the Police raided the camps, the police said, “with the positive revelations made in course of interrogating the suspects earlier arrested in connection with the killing, the team was able to locate the criminal hideout in Ubah Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo State and immediately cordoned-off the area and tactically went into the den.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has cautioned General Superintendent of Deeper life Ministry Pastor William Kumuyi against planned crusade in Aba, Abia State.
The group advised him not to go ahead with the crusade in view of the security situation in the Southeast.
In a statement from its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB explained criminals, operating as gunmen, could infiltrate the crusade with the government turning around to blame it on the group.
The statement reads in part: “We wish to advise Pastor Kumuyi of Deeper life Ministry to take note of the security situation in the South East as he comes to Aba for his gospel crusade.
Embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has sent a powerful message to the ‘Unknown Gunmen’ terrorising the South-East region.
Kanu ordered the terrorist group to “stop now”, or “face Biafra judgment in the future”.
Kanu’s message to unknown gunmen was conveyed by a prominent Biafra agitator, Benjamin Madubugwu, after the trial of the IPOB leader on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Apparently displeased with the happenings in the southeast, outspoken Madubugwu said while speaking to the press: “Our leader gave me a message to deliver to our people. Those of you killing people in the name of IPOB, those of you burning properties in our land in the name of IPOB, our leader said you should stop now, or in the future, you will face Biafra judgement.”
Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he had been a fan of Liverpool Football Club from childhood.
According to the News Agency Of Nigeria, Kanu disclosed this when his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, complained that the Department of State Services had not been allowing him and other counsel enough time to meet with the IPOB leader whenever they visited him in detention.
After addressing his concern, Nyako jokingly mentioned that she was a fan of Liverpool and asked Ozekhome which club was his favourite. Ozekhome replied that he was also a Liverpool fan.
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