The Independent People of Biafra claim that the Federal Government is evading the court because it has no evidence or case against their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and that this is evidenced by the many court adjournments of his case.
The pro-Biafran organisation said it is “saddening” that the entire world has watched as the Federal Government and the Nigerian courts continue to mistreat Kanu by keeping him in the DSS custody in Abuja despite the courts having released him.
This was said by the organisation in a statement released on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, who also said that the group was baffled by the Supreme Court’s adjournment and delay.
“IPOB movement, ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wishes to ask once more what the Federal Government and Supreme Court are doing regarding Kanu’s unlawful detention in DSS custody in Abuja,” read the statement.
“It is clear that the Federal Government has essentially given up on its Supreme Court appeal against Kanu because they can make no valid argument against an upright guy who is committed to emancipating the poor and underprivileged in our society.
“Given that this is the largest court case in Nigerian history, the Federal Government has a responsibility to insist on vigorous prosecution of the case rather than evading its court. It is absurd that the person summoning them to court is the one who is being sued by the federal government.
“Isn’t this strange? In pursuing a lawsuit, they filed before the Supreme Court against Mazi Kanu, what is the Federal Government frightened of? If there is a higher authority our leader may appeal to given that the Federal Government and Judiciary are hesitant to consider this issue and it is unlikely that the Supreme Court of Nigeria will, we would want to know.
It has come to our attention that much of the public discussion surrounding the legal problems at the centre of this case is driven by ignorance in certain circles and plain mischief-making in others. Therefore, it was now necessary for the aristocratic family of IPOB to correct the record.
“We boldly assert that by delaying a date for the hearing of a case that has previously been scheduled twice, the Supreme Court of Nigeria looks to be supporting the unjustified incarceration of our leader.
“This is unprecedented; the Supreme Court’s own rules call for an expedited hearing; why has this rule not been followed in a case of this gravity where Mazi Kanu has already been freed by the Nigerian Appeal Court?”
Therefore, the organisation emphasised that the case’s postponement is evidence that the Federal Government is using a front to continue acting illegally against Kanu.
They said that Kanu’s ongoing arrest is “arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal” because he is not currently facing any sort of judicial proceedings related to any sort of charge.
“The current situation before the Supreme Court is a sign that the Federal Government is hiding behind the pretext that our leader’s arrest is legal by relying on the illegal Order for Stay of Execution. Stay of Execution is not a concept recognised by Nigeria’s current criminal law jurisprudence.
Therefore, the statement said, “We are urging the Federal Government to stop being afraid of our leader, Mazi Kanu, and have the decency to either pursue their appeal at the Supreme Court or release him.”
