…Kanu’s lawyer writes UK govt on moves to release IPOB leader
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned what has been described as “useless and fabricated media propaganda and blackmail from some media houses” that it has another acting leader replacing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It stated that those “peddling the lies are those criminals publishing the lies to confuse others.”
Director of Media and Publicity of IPOB, Comrade Emma Powerful in a statement to newsmen on Tuesday insisted that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains the leader of the group.
The declaration by IPOB is contrary to reports in the media that Mazi Chika Edoziem had replaced Kanu in acting capacity.
Powerful said, “We want everybody to bear in mind that Mazi Chika Edoziem is the head of IPOB Directorate of State, DOS and not IPOB Acting Leader.
IPOB said there was never a time that Emma Powerful the Publicity Secretary of IPOB issued any statement purporting that Kanu had been replaced by Mazi Chika Edoziem as IPOB Acting Leader.
According to the body, “It is unfortunate that some mischievous elements twisted an unambiguous statement by IPOB where we clarified that in the meantime that our Leader is in detention, the Head of DOS, Mazi Edoziem will be providing direction on the day to day activities of IPOB. We never said that Edoziem has become the Acting Leader of IPOB.”
It said, “For the avoidance of doubts, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains the Leader of IPOB. The entire IPOB family all over the world is loyal to him. IPOB has no Acting Leader. Chika Edoziem is only the Head of DOS of IPOB not the leader.”
“We, therefore, urge our family members, supporters, friends and members of the public to ignore the misleading and mischievous media report.”
Meanwhile, the legal team of the detained IPOB leader has written to the United Kingdom government, seeking to know their plan towards securing Kanu’s release as directed by the United Nations.
Kanu’s International Counsel and spokesman, Bruce Fein, in a letter to the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, urged UK to ensure the implementation of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Opinion No. 25/2022.
According to the letter dated August 7, 2022 and made available to Daily Sun by the IPOB leader’s special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, the envoy was accused of not giving attention to Kanu’s case even weeks after the opinion was issued.
The United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on July 20, 2022, issued a unanimous opinion addressing United Kingdom citizen Nnamdi Kanu’s kidnapping, torture, extraordinary rendition, and protracted detention without trial by Nigeria acting in collusion with Kenya.
Among other things, the Working Group Opinion called upon Nigeria “to take urgent action to ensure the immediate unconditional release of Mr. Kanu.”
The Opinion catalouged the serial human rights violations of Nigeria and Kenya regarding Mr. Kanu: “The deprivation of liberty…in contravention of articles 2, 3, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 2, 9, 13, 14, 16, 19, and 26 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights…”
“Indeed, he is a victim of multiple crimes perpetrated by Nigerian and Kenyan authorities. Yet you and your superiors continue to permit Mr. Kanu to suffer in a Nigerian dungeon in flagrant violation of international law.
“Your silence is making Great Britain’s presidency of the United Nations Security Council a joke.
“I regret the resort to language outside the customary euphemisms of diplomacy. But justice for Nnamdi Kanu and 70-80 million Biafrans is too important to be left to ambiguous clues or semaphore. I would respectfully request that you inform me promptly of the steps you have taken or contemplate taking to secure Nigeria’s compliance with the Working Group Opinion calling for Nnamdi Kanu’s immediate, unconditional release and reparations,” Fein stated.
