Nnamdi Kanu blasts Osinbajo for declaring Biafran agitation illegal, demands immediate withdrawal of charges against him

The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday August 2, tackled the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for declaring the Biafran agitation as unconstitutional.
Vanguard reports that Kanu, in a world press conference he held through his team of lawyers in Abuja, maintained that Osinbajo’s view about Biafra was “patently misconceived and inherently
faulty” , despite his rank as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
newsmen gathered that in a statement signed by his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Kanu, insisted that “extra judicial remarks” Osinbajo made before the Igbo Council of Traditional Rulers, in reference to Biafran agitation, was offensive to section 2 of the 1999
constitution, as amended.
The statement read in part: “We are presently drifting into the narrative that had hitherto kept our client in unlawful incarceration for 18 months, in clear breach of positive orders of court that directed for his unconditional release.
“Unhealthy interference by the Executive Arm in the matter before
the Court, vide pronouncements capable of putting fears in the court is a case in point.
“This is evident in the recent extra judicial remarks by the Acting President, clearly contained in his presentation before the Igbo Council of Traditional Rulers, that the agitation for Biafra is unconstitutional as it offends section 2 of the 1999 Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, 2011, and consequent threat of arrest and imprisonment of those that exercise their unquestionable and inalienable rights to self-determination.
“This declaration is respectfully considered as not only
provocative, and unacceptable, but a clear case of undue interference with judicial process, which have the capacity of distorting the mindset of the Judicial Officer seized of our client’s case.
“It is important to remind the Acting President that our client’s
present political trial originated from his legitimate exercise of his
constitutionally guaranteed rights to self-determination as clearly
provided for under extant laws, and international instruments/
covenants.
“It is therefore reasonably expected that any of such extra judicial
remarks, should not emanate from the revered office of the
Acting President.
“With due reverence to the Acting President, and his rank as a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we deem it obligatory to state the
correct position of the law as it relates to his faulty position.
“We observed most respectfully that the learned silk made this
remark in direct response to Quit Notice threats and ultimatum
handed down to Igbos living in the Northern part of the country,
by a faceless and uninformed group, going by the name of
Arewa Youths Consultative Forum.
“But it must be noted very humbly that it is a mistake to equate
the lawful and legitimate aspirations and agitations for Biafra with
the unlawful, illegal and illegitimate Quit Notice, and threat given to
the Igbo People to leave the North by this group.
“We submit most humbly that the right to self-determination,
recognizable under various instruments which Nigeria is a State
Party is clearly provided for under Article 20(1) of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and
Enforcement) ( Act Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
1990.
“This law provides thus: Article 20 (1) ‘All Peoples shall have right
to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable
rights 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’.
“The above law has been in force in our jurisdiction since 1990
having been ratified vide Ratification and Enforcement Act, Laws
of Federation. It is our respectful view that the declaration by the
Acting President that Biafran agitation is unconstitutional, is with
due respect patently misconceived and inherently faulty.
“It is on this note that we must respectfully call on the Acting
President to be more circumspect in his further remarks as it
relates to a substantive charge before the court. There is need for
total restraint, from comments, pronouncements and declarations
that have the effect of distorting the pendulum, one way or the
other, particularly on this phantom criminal charge”.
Besides, Ejiofor who briefed newsmen alongside counsel to
Kanu’s co-defendants, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin
Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie, accused the
federal government of deliberately stalling frustrating full-blown
hearing on the treasonable felony charge against the defendants.
According to him, rather than to open its case on June 22, FG,
served an amended five-count charge on the defendants, “in clear
breach and violation of an order the court made on April 25,
2017, wherein his Lordship warned, that the court will not
entertain further interlocutory application or process capable of
delaying the trial”.
He said that FG joined the 5th defendant, Chimezie, in the
case after a Federal High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State had on
May 24, not only ordered the Department of State Service to
release him forthwith, but equally directed that he should be paid
N5million as damages for his illegal detention.
Consequently, Kanu and his co-defendants, demanded an
immediate withdrawal of the amended five-count charge against
them, saying they have not committed any offence that is unknown
to law.