Disturbed by the refusal of security agencies to allow lawyers to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, into the courtroom during his last trial, leaders of the Southeast region have appealed to the federal government to accord him his fundamental human rights.
Such rights should also be extended to his lawyers, and in doing so, the government would be showing that it is committed to a recent statement that it is considering various solutions to Kanu’s case, including a political solution.
This was contained in a statement issued by South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops.
According to the leaders: “Failure to do so would lend weight to the suspicion in some quarters of a planned secret trial, as well as neutralise all the efforts being made to establish peace in the South-East”.
Among those who signed the statement are: the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka A. Achebe; Methodist Archbishop of Umuahai, Most Reveeend Chibuzo Opoko; and Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Most Reverend Anthony Obinna.
Below is the statement:
“The South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops commend Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the entire leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, for listening to our appeal and calling off the sit-at-home order. This has offered some relief to the already distressed social and economic life of our people.
“The Joint Body is relieved that the Anambra State Gubernatorial Election was conducted without any major incidents or breach of the peace. It also commends the people of Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Security Forces, the National Peace Committee, and all the other actors who contributed to the successful conduct of the election.
“The Joint Body is highly disturbed by the persistent complaints by the IPOB legal team about the difficulties it encounters in dealing with the Department of State Services, DSS, and, especially, the sad events which occurred during Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s appearance in court last Wednesday, November 10.
This Body urges the court to affirm the fundamental rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, his lawyers, and other stakeholders. Failure to do so would lend weight to the suspicion in some quarters of a planned secret trial, as well as neutralise all the efforts being made to establish peace in the South-East.
“The Joint Body acknowledges the statement by the Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN, in which he affirmed that the Federal Government was open to a political solution to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.
This statement is in line with the proposal earlier made by this Joint Body and by other well-meaning persons and groups in Nigeria. This Body therefore eagerly awaits the concrete steps that would be taken in this regard.
“The Joint Body acknowledges the roles played by various other Igbo organizations and groups in fostering peace in the South-East zone and calls on all to sustain the current effort until true peace, based on justice and equity, is achieved in our land.”
