WE WANT BIAFRA NATION NOT ADDITIONAL STATES – IPOB

WE WANT BIAFRA NATION, NOT ADDITIONAL STATES – IPOB The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Monday declared that it wants an independent nation of Biafra and not additional states in the Southeast. There have been moves to create an additional 31 new states in Nigeria, including five states from the Southeast. The proposed states are Etiti State, Adada State, Urashi State, Orlu State, and Aba State. However, IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the current states are bankrupt and not functioning properly. In a statement he signed, Powerful said: “Following the rumours that the Nigerian Government and the National Assembly proposed to create an additional 31 new states in Nigeria, we, the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide, wish to categorically state that Biafrans do not want the creation of new states. Instead of multiplying economically bankrupt states, the unworkable Nigerian unity should be dissolved. “The IPOB movement is against the creation of new states because the existing states are bankrupt and not functioning properly. Creating more states is tantamount to creating more confusion, disunity, and insecurity. Nigerians are suffering because of the faulty foundations of the Nigerian state and the insurmountable corruption in the Nigerian government. “Nigerian politicians are deep to their necks in corruption. Corruption has eaten into every fabric of Nigerian society. Hence, no amount of multiplication of states and security agencies will solve Nigerians’ monumental corruption, insecurity, and other problems. Nigeria is a country founded on fraud, sustained in fraud, and incapable of sustaining human and capital development. Any society built on fraud cannot stand. That is why IPOB and other rational indigenous minds in Nigeria are calling for the dissolution of Nigeria. “At their flag independence given to them by the British in 1960, Nigeria had three major regions. Later, the Mid-Western Region was created after a referendum, making it the fourth region. These regions were progressive and competitive because they enjoyed constitutionally granted autonomy. However, Nigeria’s woes started when a genocidist, ‘Jack’ Gowon, and his clueless Supreme Military Council created 12 states in order to divide Biafrans and prevent them from fighting the war of 1967-1970 in unison. Gowon’s decision to divide and carve out some ethnic groups from one region to another was the beginning of ethnic tensions in Nigeria today. Such an ethnically bigoted decision destroyed the autonomy of the regions, leading to this useless federal system that has resulted in the country’s economic and security woes. “To add salt to injury, a heartless murderer, Murtala Muhammad, created more states and increased Nigeria to 19 states, favoring the Northern Region with more states than the South. In the same way, Fulani military heads of state like Ibrahim Babangida and Abacha created even more states to continue favoring the Northern region. Today, the incessant state creation, inspired by the born-to-rule mentality of the Fulanis, has destroyed the progressive regions and resulted in useless states that depend on Abuja handouts in the name of allocation sharing to survive. Even if Tinubu’s government creates an additional 100 states, the political equation between the North, West, and East (previous regions) will never be balanced. The previous ethnically bigoted Northern military leaders have already created unfavorable political equations that are inimical to the unity of Nigeria. Postponing the division of Nigeria is embracing the evil days, which are already upon us. “IPOB says NO to the new state creation proposal that will include the Biafra region. Our position is clear: we don’t want our region to be balkanized or broken down any further. Instead, Ndigbo need our Igbo brothers and sisters, villages, clans, and whole regions carved into Kogi, Benue, and Edo states back into Alaigbo. The Nigerian government can create more states to…

FEDERAL HIGH COURT CLEARS IPOB’S HEAD OF DIRECTORATE FROM NIGERIA’S WANTED LIST – IPOB’S COUNSEL

FEDERAL HIGH COURT CLEARS IPOB’S HEAD OF DIRECTORATE FROM NIGERIA’S WANTED LIST – IPOB’s COUNSEL A Federal High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, on Thursday, declared illegal the inclusion of Mazi Chika Edoziem, the Head of Directorate for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Nigeria’s wanted list. The ruling came in response to a suit filed by Mazi Chika Edoziem against the Hon. Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff. IPOB’s counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, revealed the court’s decision in a statement to newsmen in Owerri following the ruling. “In a historic ruling today, the Federal High Court No. 1 in Owerri, presided over by Hon. Justice I.N. Oweibo, delivered a landmark judgment in Suit No: FHC/OW/FHR/29/2024. The court declared illegal the wrongful designation of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a ‘wanted person, terrorist, insurgent, kidnapper, and violent criminal’ by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff,” Ejiofor stated. He explained that the court ruled that the March 22, 2024, publication of Edoziem’s name and photograph in the Ministry of Defence’s First Edition of 2024 was a gross violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to dignity of the human person and, therefore, unconstitutional. The court directed the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff to: Immediately retract the unconstitutional declaration of Mazi Chika Edoziem as a “terrorist,” “insurgent,” “kidnapper,” “violent criminal,” and “wanted person.” Issue an unreserved public apology to Mazi Chika Edoziem in two national newspapers. In addition, the court awarded ₦500 million in damages to Edoziem for the infringement on his fundamental rights. “The court awarded ₦500 million to Mazi Chika Edoziem as compensation for the violation of his fundamental right to dignity of the human person,” Ejiofor confirmed. Ejiofor highlighted that among the names listed in the Ministry of Defence’s publication, Edoziem was the only one who successfully challenged his inclusion. “His global reputation as a peace advocate stands in sharp contrast to these blatant false allegations. This judgment is a strong statement against unjust profiling and reinforces the need for due process in security matters,” Ejiofor added. Ejiofor urged security agencies to adopt proper profiling methods rather than targeting innocent citizens. “The real perpetrators of crime operate in known locations, and tackling insecurity requires a collective effort beyond the actions of the security forces,” he emphasized. The ruling marks a significant victory for Mazi Chika Edoziem and reinforces the importance of constitutional protections and due process in handling security-related designations.

I’LL REMAIN IN DETENTION FOR LIFE UNTIL IMPARTIAL JUDGE TAKES OVER MY CASE- KANU

I’LL REMAIN IN DETENTION for LIFE UNTIL IMPARTIAL JUDGE TAKES OVER MY CASE – KANU Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Saturday said he’s prepared to remain in detention all his life until a proper and impartial judge handles his matter. Kanu alleged a serial executive and judicial fraud being perpetrated against him since 2021 when he was extraordinarily renditioned. The IPOB leader claimed that his matter is deliberately being shielded from judges and justices who can deliver impartial judgments that may lead to the Federal Government losing in court. Kanu is currently facing trial before Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court on terrorism-related charges. He has been detained since 2021 when he was subjected to extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria. Since his return to Nigeria, the Appeal Court in Abuja had discharged and acquitted him of all charges against him. Despite the ruling, the Nigerian government has refused to grant Kanu freedom. Meanwhile, there has been some back and forth with Justice Nyako over the handling of his matter. In 2024, Kanu had challenged Nyako to step down from his trial because he lacked confidence in her judgment. Responding, the judge recused herself, but the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, insisted that she should continue with the matter. Last week, Justice Nyako adjourned the matter indefinitely. However, in an open letter he personally signed, Kanu said: “I have been compelled by the events of the past few days to take the unusual step of writing this Open Letter for the singular purpose of calling the attention of the general public to the serial executive and judicial fraud being perpetrated against me since my extraordinary rendition in 2021. The details are as follows: “In a judgment entered on 1st March 2017, the Federal High Court Abuja ruled that the ‘IPOB is not an unlawful group.’ At the time, it received widespread publicity which can be verified. This landmark ruling (made by the court before it turned unjust) emanated in a criminal proceeding that required ‘proof beyond reasonable doubt’ and in which the Federal Government and my humble self presented our respective cases. Alas! Instead of the Federal Government to go on appeal as the law mandated (if they are dissatisfied with the judgment), the former Attorney-General (Abubakar Malami) went behind closed doors with a letter signed by late Abba Kyari and got IPOB proscribed/tagged a terrorist group in an ex parte proceeding conducted without notice to me or to the IPOB. This abominable incident was the earliest sign yet that the government and its judiciary have struck an unholy and fraudulent alliance to deny me my rights and thereby imperil the lives and liberty of millions who identify with IPOB. “On 26th October 2022, a Federal High Court declared my extraordinary rendition and detention as unconstitutional, stating that: ‘the manner of arrest and detention of the Applicant (Mazi Nnamdi Kanu) in Kenya, his continued detention in Abuja, his subjection to physical and mental trauma by the Respondents, the inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to the Applicant amounts to a brazen violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right to dignity of his person and threat to life under Section 34 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).’ The Court further ordered the Federal Government to apologize to me and pay me compensation. In a responsible and well-ordered society, run by a responsible government, this judgment is sufficient to have ended my lengthy detention and encouraged the Federal Government to constructively engage me on the issue of the self-determination agitation that triggered this whole saga. “Pedal back to 13th October 2022 when the Court of Appeal…

SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO SECURE KANU’S RELEASE – FAMILY

SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO SECURE KANU’S RELEASE — FAMILY The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has accused South East Governors of not doing enough to secure his release. Prince Emmanuel Kanu who spoke Friday in Umuahia during a memorial in honour of their late parents, HRM Eze Israel, and Ugoeze Sally Kanu, said the Governors had not demonstrated genuine commitment towards his freedom. He wondered why the Governors had not met with the condition given to them by Mr President, arguing that if truly they are sincerely committed to his release, they would have sought an audience with the President over his case. He said: ” South East Governors are not doing enough to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It’s either they are complicit or something. The big question is: Why have they not met with Mr President on Nnamdi Kanu? The information available to us is that Mr President asked them to meet with him officially over the matter but up till now they haven’t done so. “Are the Governors benefiting from the unrest in the South East or what? What are they afraid of? Free Nnamdi Kanu today and all this tension in the South East will fizzle out in 24 hours because we will now know those hiding under the guise of the agitation for his release to perpetrate crime in the region.” On the indefinite adjournment of Kanu’s trial, the family said Justice Binta Nyako, no longer had jurisdiction to preside over Kanu’s trial having earlier recused herself from the matter. Kanu’s family also wondered why Justice Nyako would choose to adjourn the matter indefinitely, asking what her interest was in the matter. “Why is she trying to force herself in the case? Does she have interest in the matter? We have said it severally that she is biased. She has turned down every application to relocate Nnamdi Kanu to prison custody instead of the DSS cell where they have held him for years under severe conditions”. The family, therefore, called on the international community to prevail on the Nigerian authorities to release the IPoB leader who, it insisted, committed no crime to be incarcerated. Prince Emmanuel commended Biafran elders and all those who gathered in the family to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the demise of the parents. He said his parents died as a result of the trauma they had following the September 14 , 2017 military invasion of their country home. “We are humbled to see the crowd that gathered in our house to honour my late parents who died as a result of the shock they had when the soldiers raided our house in 2017. 28 people were killed in our house during that raid. The people have renamed today, February 14 , Saint Kanu’s Day to honour my late parents who were buried on February 14. We appreciate everyone for coming especially those from outside South East States. We are encouraged by their show of love”. He demanded the unconstitutional release of Kanu who he said, meant well for everyone, saying “we demand my brother’s release. The issues he raised are germane. His matter is a case of dialogue and meaningful conversation”. Speaking earlier, the leader of Elders in Biafra land, High Chief Agonsi Ebere, said they came to honour Kanu’s late parents who laid down their lives for Biafra’s freedom. He urged the Federal Government to heed the growing pleas for Kanu’s release, saying his continued detention will not bring any progress to Nigeria. Chief Ebere appealed to President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu to Biafra elders, adding that his release will restore peace to the South East.…

CAMBRIDGE HONOURS NIGERIAN PHD STUDENT FOR BIAFRA HERITAGE PROJECT

CAMBRIDGE HONOURS NIGERIAN PhD STUDENT FOR BIAFRA HERITAGE PROJECT A PhD student at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Archaeology, Stanley Onyemechalu, has been recognised for his Legacies of Biafra Heritage Project. According to an article published by the department on Monday, Onyemechalu was recently named runner-up in the Early Career Researcher category at the Cambridge Awards for Research Impact and Engagement. Onyemechalu’s project reportedly engaged both young and old in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria, through creative artistic expressions. “Through workshops and an exhibition, the project aimed to promote intergenerational dialogue and historical awareness on the legacies of the Nigeria-Biafra war, a sensitive part of people’s collective history that has been suppressed by successive Nigerian governments,” the article read. “I am honoured to have received this important recognition from the University of Cambridge for my work with communities in south-eastern Nigeria,” Onyemechalu was quoted as saying. He added, “I am grateful to my collaborators at the Centre for Memories in Enugu, Nigeria, including the project volunteers and participants; my supervisor, Dr Dacia Viejo-Rose, and colleagues at the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre; as well as the Public Engagement team at the University of Cambridge. “I would also like to thank the Royal Anthropological Institute, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the University’s Public Engagement Starter Fund for supporting the project.” Onyemechalu’s award was part of a wider celebration of research excellence at Cambridge. Professor Gilly Carr, a researcher at the Institute of Continuing Education and the Department of Archaeology, was also recognised as runner-up in the Established Academic category for her work on The Safeguarding Sites Project, while Dr Nik Petek-Sargeant, a scholar at the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, was similarly honoured as a runner-up in the Early Career Researcher category for his Historical East African Archaeology and Theory Project. The Cambridge Awards for Research Impact and Engagement are reportedly presented annually to celebrate innovative research approaches that have significant social, cultural, and academic impact. “The awards, presented by Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice and Professor Sir John Aston FRS, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, recognise innovative practices and partnership working across the engagement, knowledge exchange, and impact space,” the article noted.

NNAMDI KANU ASKS JUDGE TO WITHDRAW FROM HIS TRIAL

. AGAIN, NNAMDI KANU ASKS JUDGE TO WITHDRAW FROM HIS TRIAL Drama ensued at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday morning as Aloy Ejimakor, the lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu, told judge Binta Nyako to recuse herself from the trial. Mr Ejimakor said the request for her to quit the case again came from his client, who is the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group agitating for the secession of South-east states and parts of some neighbouring states as a sovereign Biafra nation. Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) since 2021, is standing trial before Mrs Nyako on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony arising from his separatist activists as a pro-Biafra agitator. He arrived at the court premises in company with SSS operatives at about 8:30 a.m. on Monday. Mr Kanu’s trial was earlier stalled after Mrs Nyako recused herself from the case following the IPOB leader’s oral application on 24 September 2024. The IPOB leader broke into a conversation between the bar and the bench during the court session to tell the judge to withdraw from the case. He said he no longer had confidence in her handling of his trial. However, John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, returned the file to Mrs Nyako on the grounds that Nnamdi Kanu’s application must be brought formally before the court through a motion on notice. Consequently, in a letter dated 5 December 2024, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar; the prosecution led by Adegboyega Awomolo asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of the trial. Opposing the request for a trial date, the defence counsel, Mr Ejimakor, in a letter dated 9 December 2024, said the ruling of the judge recusing herself remained valid. Mr Ejimakor further asked that the case be transferred to a division of the Federal High Court in the Igbo-dominated South-east region of the country if no judge in Abuja is willing to preside over it. Nnamdi Kanu at Monday hearingAt the resumed hearing on Monday, the prosecuting counsel led by Mr Awomolo, told the judge was ready for the commencement of trial as his witnesses were ready. However, Mr Ejimakor said his client, Nnamdi Kanu, has made a choice to not stand trial before Mrs Nyako. “The defendant is still asking that your lordship recuse herself from this matter,” Ejimakor told the court. In response, the judge said “the Chief Judge had not accepted the recusal and had referred the case back” to her for trial. She asked the defence team led by Mr Ejimakor to send a written application if they still insist on the recusal.

NOBODY SHOULD BEG TINUBU’S GOVT FOR MY RELEASE – NNAMDI KANU

NOBODY SHOULD BEG TINUBU’S GOVT FOR MY RELEASE — NNAMDI KANU Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), has made it clear that he doesn’t want anyone begging for his release from detention. According to his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu believes he hasn’t committed any crime and therefore shouldn’t be subjected to appeals for pardon or clemency. Kanu’s warning comes after some South East leaders, including Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, called on President Bola Tinubu to release him. However, Kanu emphasises that his release should be based on the rule of law, citing a Federal High Court judgment that declared his detention unconstitutional. Instead of begging for his release, Kanu suggests that those who want to help should focus on ensuring that his case is conducted with impartiality and adherence to the rule of law. He also expresses gratitude to those working towards restoring security and tranquility in Igboland. This was contained in a statement signed by his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor on Saturday. Ejimakor, in the statement published on his social media handle, said Kanu was displeased with appeals for his release and frowned at such appeals on Friday. “During my visitation with Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu yesterday, he made it abundantly clear that while he is deeply appreciative of the efforts and the widespread calls being made by well-meaning individuals and groups to secure his release, he, however, instructed his legal team to issue the following clarifications: “The matter of releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not an act of mercy, pardon, executive clemency, or even amnesty. Instead, it should be an act of simply complying with the subsisting Federal High Court judgment that declared his detention as unconstitutional or even the extant international tribunal decisions that separately declared his detention as unlawful. Alternatively, the decision to free him from detention and discontinue his infamous prosecution can be made by simply resorting to the constitutional provisions that empower the Attorney-General of the Federation (on the directives of the President) to discontinue any prosecution. “Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is adamant that nobody should plead or beg anybody on his behalf because he has committed no crime. Self-determination which is the real issue that got twisted to suddenly become a high crime is an inalienable right guaranteed under the laws of Nigeria, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, and Kenya. Thus, the perverse and unlawful criminalisation of his exercise of this right should not unwittingly be encouraged through some misguided appeals for pardon, clemency, or mercy. Thus, releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not an act of mercy or pardon but an act of abiding by rule of law. “In as much as those calling for his release are sincere, their calls for pardon or clemency may be misconstrued as a green light to the executive branch or even the courts to violate the rule of law by continuing to subject Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to a prosecution or trial that does not comport with the tenets of the Constitution and Nigeria’s treaty obligations. “Instead of begging, those desiring his release should emulate the language and tact used by Afenifere, Ohaneze, World Igbo Congress (WIC), ranking members of the National Assembly, American Military Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self Determination (based in America), the international community and a host of others who have made it clear that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu deserves to be released because he has committed no offence known to law. If truth be told, it is Nigeria’s executive branch which extraordinarily renditioned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that should show contrition for resorting to extraordinary rendition which is a State crime under international law and and the common law. If any begging must be done,…

IGBO MARGINALIZED, FACT OR FANCIFUL CLAIM

Igbo Marginalization: Fact Or Fanciful Claim?By Chike Obidigbo Ph.D Recently, President Bola Tinubu appointed chairmen of 42 boards and parastatals of the Federal Government (FG). As has become usual with such federal appointments, the list of appointees had only few names of people from the Southeast geopolitical zone. Last month, the President ended the year 2024 with similar appointments. That was the selection of Chief Executive Officers for the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF) and the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD). In the statement released by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, was appointed as the Executive Secretary of NUC, while Prof. Salisu Shehu was made Executive Secretary of NERDC. For NEPAD, the President appointed Jabiru Abdullahi Tsauri as the National Coordinator of NEPAD and announced Yazid Danfulani as the Executive Secretary of the SMDF/PAGMI.As has become customary after every such federal appointments, Nigerians were eager to see a semblance of balance or federal character in the distribution of positions and responsibilities among the composite nationalities of the country. While people of other ethnic nationalities noted the imbalance against Igbo with quiet disappointment, the Igbo have long taken their continuing marginalisation as part of their contribution to Nigeria’s search for survival as a country. It was the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, who stated that “Part of building a nation means building a spirit of tolerance, love and respect amongst the people of the country.” But, in his great work, Nigeria’s legendary writer, Chinua Achebe, contended that Nigerians will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo.” Some commentators believe that Igbo’s problems in Nigeria began with the civil war, during which they sought a separate country called Biafra Republic as their own. Yet, at the end of that war in 1970, the then military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, had proclaimed a verdict of ‘No Victor, No Vanquished’. The Federal Government under Gowon also embarked on the programme of three Rs, that is, Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Reconstruction; for the former Biafran enclave of South East region. Although Ndigbo constitute one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, they are peculiar, because they were never subject to powerful caliphates or kingdom, unlike the other two- Hausa and the Yoruba- who operate monarchical leaderships, namely, the Sokoto Caliphate and Oyo Kingdom, respectively. It could be argued that the non-acceptance of undue domination by Ndigbo opened them up to antagonism by other tribes. However, it is impossible to analyse the pace of socio-political and economic development in Igbo land without factoring in the challenges and damaging effects of continued marginalization. To this end, every objective and rationale observer has been asking the same question: Has the war actually ended? Available indices suggest otherwise. Take for instance, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, which is meant to infuse a sense of patriotism and unite young Nigerians into nation building. Young graduates from South East are usually posted to the north, where they are exploited through strenuous jobs in various establishment, especially in schools. At the end of the service year, they are made to roam about, because of systemic unemployment that denies them appointment in Federal Government agencies. Even in admission into universities, Igbo applicants are denied slots due to quota, catchment area and other considerations that do not align with merit or fair competition. You come down to political leadership, it is obvious that leaders are imposed on Igbo as governors and legislators from outside to ensure that the real yearnings and aspirations of our people are not expressed.…

NNAMDI KANU REJECTS APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT ON IPOB PROSCRIPTION, SAYS WE’LL RESIST IT

: NNAMDI KANU REJECTS APPEAL COURT JUDGEMENT ON IPOB PROSCRIPTION SAYS WE’LL RESIST IT The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has vowed to resist the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which affirmed the proscription of IPOB and its designation as a terrorist organisation. Kanu stated that the court’s ruling would be challenged within the ambit of the law, as the judgment did not pass the “muster of the Nigerian Constitution and the statutes pertinent to it.” On Thursday, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal upheld an order by Justice Abdu Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, proscribing IPOB and designating it a terrorist organisation. In its judgement, a three-member panel of the court unanimously agreed with the lawyer representing the Federal Government, Oyin Koleosho, that the state acted lawfully in proscribing IPOB. The panel maintained that IPOB’s activities posed a threat to Nigeria’s continued existence and the security of its citizens. Faulting the judgment, Kanu argued that the order of proscription by the Federal High Court was obtained through an ex parte application by the Federal Government, rather than through a hearing on notice by a judge-in-chambers, as prescribed by law. He made this known during his routine meeting with his legal team, led by lead counsel Aloy Ejimakor, at the Department of State Services, DSS facility in Abuja. A statement issued by Ejimakor after the meeting read: “Rising from our routine visitation to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu today, he instructed the legal team to convey the following to members of the public: The ruling yesterday by the Court of Appeal affirming the proscription of IPOB as a terror group will live in infamy and shall be vigorously resisted within the parameters of the law—both municipal and international. “Sooner rather than later, it shall be demonstrated that the judgment did not pass the muster of the Nigerian Constitution and the statutes pertinent to it. “Members of the public should ponder this: One of the main issues we canvassed at the Court of Appeal was that the order of proscription by the Federal High Court was obtained through an ex parte application by the Federal Government, instead of through a hearing on notice by a judge-in-chambers, as prescribed by the pertinent law. “We also argued that the proscription proceedings violated the hallowed doctrine of fair hearing enshrined in the Constitution, as IPOB was neither put on notice nor heard before the order of proscription was issued. “In addition to these, we argued that the proscription directive issued to the Attorney-General was signed by the late Abba Kyari, and not by former President Buhari, as the relevant law required. The Court of Appeal acknowledged these irregularities but still went ahead to dismiss our appeal on the questionable premise that national security is an exception to the provisions of the Constitution,” he said. The IPOB leader added: “One then wonders: wherein lies the national security risk posed by IPOB in 2017 that warranted the flagrant breach of the Constitution—one that, in its intent and effect, discriminatorily targeted the Igbo as a whole? “To be clear, the Constitution sets out a process that must be strictly followed before any provision of the Constitution can be suspended for the sake of national security. But in this case, that process was not followed at all. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal’s decision will hardly have any prejudicial effect on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s main case, as the decision is not final. We are heading to the Supreme Court, which is—by law—the final arbiter. There are also numerous other legal avenues that can be pursued against any individual or entity that attempts to take undue advantage…

AZUTA-MBATA’S EMERGENCE AS OHANAEZE PG PROVES ENEMIES OF NDIGBO WRONG – MASSOB

AZUTA-MBATA’S EMERGENCE AS OHANNAEZE PG PROVES ENEMIES OF NDIGBO WRONG – MASSOB The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, has said the emergence of Senator John Azuta Mbata, an Ikwerre man, as the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo has proved the critics of Igbo people wrong. MASSOB also claimed that the election of Mbata has exposed the aged long hypocritical, falsehood and camouflaged make-believe that Ikwerre people are not Igbos. This was made known in statement by Comrade Uchenna Madu, Leader of MASSOB. Madu said there are systematic sponsored falsehood to deny and scrap out the ‘Igboism’ of Ndigbo in Rivers State for decades. According to him, “MASSOB will continue to be loyal to Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership for the interest of our people irrespective of our locations.” “The emergence of Chief John Azuta Mbata as the new President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo have justified the under carpet truth about the founding fathers of Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1976 when it was formed as Igbo Union before changing to Ohaneze Ndigbo in 1979. “For decades, there are systematic sponsored falsehood to deny and scrapped out the Igboism of Ndigbo in Rivers state but the emergence of Chief Senator John Azuta Mbata, an Ikwerre man as the newly elected president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo have proved the Igbo critics wrong. “MASSOB wish to remind His Excellency that your leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide is very unique and special because your emergence as the Ohaneze Ndigbo President General have expose the aged long hypocritical, falsehood and camouflaged make-believe that Ikwerre people are not Igbos.”