By Teddy Nwanunobi
Abuja (Sundiata Post) — Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday, refused to go into the Federal High Court in Abuja for his case without being accompanied by some of his relatives and supporters.
Earlier in the day, Biafran supports had gathered outside the Court ahead of the day’s proceeding in the ongoing court case between the Federal Government and the IPOB leader.
But the security personnel that are attached to the Court for the ongoing case would not allow any of his relatives and supporters into the Court Room.
Kanu, however, insisted that his relatives and supporters must be allowed into the Court Room, if the Judge (Justice Binta Nyako) and security personnel expected him to cooperate.
After much arguments, the Judge then ruled that he be allowed to have 15 members of his relatives and supporters into the Court Room.
Kanu (2nd left) leaving the court, after a hearing
Some of those that were allowed into the Court Room include some Igbo chiefs.
Meanwhile, members of the IPOB have expressed optimism that their leader would regain freedom, after today’s appearance in the court.
“The court case that is coming up this Monday in the Federal High Court, Abuja is between our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and federal government of Nigeria on the concocted charge of treasonable felony without proof or evidence.
“Nigeria has the dubious distinction of being the only contraption on earth where those that hold opposing views to that of the government are locked up on the grounds of being treasonous yet no single evidence to back up the claim.
“The Nigerian Government and her APC Party led by Muhammadu Buhari through her security agencies especially the Department of State Services, DSS, has been bringing frivolous charges against our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, which have never held any water from day one because God Almighty (Chukwu Okike Abiama) in his infinite mercy has opened the eyes of the judges to see the truth hence the quashing of some of the charges preferred against them, we expect Justice Binta Nyako to discharge some of the remaining charges.
“However, we are urging the Nigerian government and her judiciary to stop embarrassing themselves in the face of international community and foreign observers that will be in the court on that day by dropping the remaining charges preferred against our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other members detained illegally alongside him in the prison since almost two years now.
“At the last court session, some of the silly charges were dropped. It was also determined on the 7th March 2017 and pronounced to the hearing of the world that Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB is a lawfully constituted organisation which has been welcomed by the international community and foreign policy makers in the various countries of the world.
“In other words, the whole world is looking forward to see the Nigerian government, the judiciary and the Federal High Court to do the needful by removing other charges against the members of a lawful organisation like IPOB because they did not commit any crime against humanity or Nigerian State,” IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said in a statement.
Some IPOB supporters
In another development, the IPOB has suspended its seven senior principle officers over alleged insubordination and role in new Radio Biafra launch in the United States of America.
The suspension, IPOB said, is indefinite, pending investigations into their involvement in the launch of the new media outlet without approval from neither the IPOB leader, Kanu, nor his Deputy, Uche Mefor.
The suspended individuals include: Chukwuemeka Iroanya; Uchenna Asiegbu, Emeka Onyebuchi, Festus Anweke, Ogbonnaya Akpa, Leonard Animene and Nmaram Ugochukwu.
“IPOB Directorate of State is hereby dissolved,” stated IPOB Deputy leader, Uche Mefor during a live Radio Biafra broadcast from London.
The suspension of the individuals has generated a wide range of reactions and outrage from Biafrans across various social media outlets over this perceived insubordination from notable members of IPOB leadership.
This is even as people have voiced their support towards the decision of the apex leadership structure of IPOB spearheaded by Kanu.
However, the incarcerated IPOB leader has distanced himself from the launching of the new Radio Biafra in the US.
Kanu, on Monday, noted that although IPOB had considered opening a subsidiary Radio Biafra in the US, there is no approval from him or his deputy for the launch to take place today.
“Radio Biafra has approval and authorisation to set up in America, according to the U.S laws; but neither me or my deputy, Uche Mefor, gave approval for it to go air today (Monday) in America,” Nnamdi Kanu told Premium Times through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
