Defeated? Nnamdi Kanu denies MEND, ready for talks with FG

Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi, Nnamdi Kanu, has denied any link with the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND).

This is even as Kanu, who has been in detention along Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, for alleged treason since October 2016, has expressed willingness to negotiate with the Federal Government.

This is against the former hard stance he has always taken, that it either Biafra or nothing.

Kanu stated this on Friday through his lawyers led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Amoebi Nzelu, while reacting to the government’s decision on Thursday to release some members of the group who were arrested in February.

Ejiofor said, “Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to political solution in resolving his present politically orchestrated ordeal.

“He welcomes genuine political solution to this case. Nnamdi Kanu has people of proven integrity and impeccable character that will negotiate on his behalf, based on his demands when communication on this effect is established.”

Denying that Kanu has any link with MEND, as insinuated by information going round in the media, especially since it was said that the group gave the release of Kanu as one of the conditions for peace in Niger Delta, Ejiofor said, “In the past few day, the media was awash with news on negotiation going on between the Federal government and MEND members, where our client’s name (Nnamdi Kanu) conspicuously featured.

Read also: We rather die than compromise Biafra, IPOB says

“It is on that note that we wish to inform the general public that Nnamdi Kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any kind of relationship with members of the MEND. As such MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation going on between MEND and the Federal Government.

“The general public is accordingly advised to ignore, discountenance and disregard the falsehood been peddled by MEND.”

Ejiofor said is client no longer had confidence in the court having seen the court presided over by Justice John Tsoho, denied him bail, despite an earlier decision of the same court under Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who granted bail to the first defendant in the matter.

“In the face of this anomaly, it became apparent that our client, Nnamdi Kanu, cannot get a fair trial in this very court. These among other sundry reasons necessitated the other actions we adopted to demand that the honourable court disqualifies itself from further proceeding with the hearing of the case,” he said.

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now