Uche Amunike
It is no longer news that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi kanu was extradited, arrested and re-arraigned in the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday.
Nigerians the world over, have reacted to the information of his re-arrest as confirmed by Lawyer to the Federal Government, S.M Labaran.
Responding to his re-arrest yesterday, former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani has urged the Nigerian government to respect the fundamental human rights of Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the government must ensure that the IPOB leader is tried within the ambit of the country’s laws.
Hear him, ‘The fundamental human rights of Nnamdi Kanu should be respected in compliance with the relevant articles of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’.
‘His trial should be guided by justice, fairness and the rule of law and not sentiments, prejudice, hate, ill feelings, vengeance or bigotry’, he wrote.
Former aide to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri on his part, disclosed that the only fault he saw in Nnamdi Kanu was his call for security agents to be attacked. This was even as he faulted the government over his arrest.
He maintained that Nnamdi Kanu was not the problem, but a symptom of the problem.
His words, : ‘The nepotism of Buhari and his clique/cabal, is the problem. Until you address that problem, you will arrest one Nnamdi Kanu, and 10 may arise in his place. Deal with the problem. Treat Nigerians equally.’
‘The only thing I fault Nnamdi Kanu on, is his call on his members to kill policemen and soldiers. Other than that, he is a freedom fighter. Yes, he is under arrest today. Buhari who has arrested him was himself under arrest between 1985-88. No condition is permanent’.
As for the Pan-Igbo group, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, they have removed themselves from a viral publication currently circulating in the Media, suggesting that Ohaneze Ndigbo has issued a statement regarding the alleged rearrest and re-arraignment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonna, Ohaneze was not in the habit of issuing press statements in a hurry and warned that those behind the act should desist from doing so or face legal action.
The statement read: ‘Ordinarily, we would have ignored the said Press Release, but silence in this circumstance would mean giving validity to such fallacy by the unsuspecting public.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor, has not issued any press statement on the matter’.
‘We hereby dissociate ourselves from the said press release and also warn those mischief makers, impostors and charlatans peddling the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo to achieve selfish gains to desist from that shameful misadventure’.
‘In the event of further breach of this warning, Ohaneze Ndigbo will be compelled to invoke the full weight of the law to deal with the offenders.’
As for his lawyer Barr Aloy Ejimakor, the manner of extradition, summary trial and detention of his client in the custody of the DSS was not proper. He argued that because Kanu’s case was well-known and on course before he left to save his life during the invasion of his home by the military, as such he will seek bail for him.
He averred that Kanu was entitled to a defence council by law, but the security agencies that re-arraigned him denied him this, through the secret trial.
His exact words: ‘His summary trial and detention in the DSS custody was wrong because this is an open case as the Attorney General himself admitted through his press conference. The case is in court. It’s not a new case, his lawyers are well known and his lawyers were not informed. This is indicative of the unfairness of the system we are struggling against in this country’.
‘The constitution says you are entitled to legal defense of your choice. It’s not a new case and they would have just called one of his lawyers and that would have balanced the arrangement. That again is fundamental unfairness and a breach of the constitution’.
‘Asking me if I will go to the DSS to ask for him is unnecessary, but necessary given the unique situation we have in this country. Everybody is entitled to a lawyer, be the person a terrorist or a freedom fighter, everybody deserves a lawyer and lawyers are not supposed to be harassed or put in fear. You are asking the question because of the unique situation in Nigeria. I will go for him because it’s my duty and as a counsel I stand by the rule of ethics to defend every human being on planet and that is my duty as a lawyer.’
Speaking on this same issue, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-kayode advised the government to tread with caution. Writing via his social Media platform, he said: ‘It is no longer news that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been arrested and detained’.
‘I’ll advise the Federal Government to ensure that he does not die in custody and that he is treated with decency, decorum and respect.’
