Tunji Wusu –
Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has stated that he will not ask the Federal Government for his release.
This was revealed in a letter signed by Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on August 25, 2023 and publicized on August 28, 2023.
Ozekhome voiced concern about Kanu’s confinement facility, which is under the supervision of the Department of State Services.
He stated that an application has been made to the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court to appoint a Magistrate to inspect the detention center.
“According to Kanu, begging for his freedom at this point will be an insult to the memory of the late Pa Mbazulike Amechi, who, despite his age and ill health, repeatedly traveled from the Southeast to Abuja, pleading with the Federal Government to honor his dying wish, which was treated with the greatest disdain and was also not honored,” he said.
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu took advantage of the visit to express his heartfelt gratitude to all people of good conscience and groups campaigning for his release.” He did, however, observe that many people may not have understood the peculiarity of his case, and he urged us to clarify that he had been effectively and validly discharged by the Court of Appeal’s judgment, delivered on October 13, 2022, which also prohibited his further trial and detention.
” As a result, there is no charge pending against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before any court as of today the peculiarity of his case, but he went on to urge us to clarify that he has been effectively and validly discharged by the Court of Appeal’s judgment, delivered October 13 2022, which said judgment also prohibited his further trial and detention.” As a result, no charges have been filed against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in any court as of today.
“Furthermore, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has stated unequivocally that pleading with the Federal Government to release him at this time is an insult to the memory of late Pa Mbazulike Amaechi, who, despite his age and ill health, repeatedly travelled from the Southeast to Abuja, pleading with the Federal Government of Nigeria to honor his dying wish, which request was treated with disdain by the Federal Government and was also not honored.”
“As a result, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is adamant that he does not need to beg the FGN to release him.” The Court of Appeal has already reached a decision in this regard, and that decision has remained binding to this day.
“Therefore, in light of his continued illegal detention, every person of goodwill should urge the Supreme Court to set a date for the expeditious hearing of the Federal Government’s appeal, as provided for in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Appeals Practice Directions.”
“Today, the 28th day of August 2023, we visited our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu – to brief him on the various intervening actions taken by the legal team ably led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to address pertinent concerns affecting his welfare and the SSS’s failure to provide him with his medical records.”
“To that end, our erudite Lead Counsel – Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, has made an application to the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory to appoint a Magistrate who will visit and inspect the SSS facility/cell where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been held in solitary confinement since June 2021 until date, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”
As a result of the SSS’s blatant disregard for a court order and its refusal to provide Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with his medical records as ordered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako in the judgment delivered on July 20, 2023, “our erudite lead counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was forced to initiate a contempt proceeding against the State Security Service and her Director General for this gross violation of positive Orders of Court.”
