Connect with us

Politics

IPOB: Lawyers demand ‘clinical investigation’ of Kanu, petition AGF

Published

on

Kanu’s kinsman sues FG, demands IPOB leader’s repatriation from UK

Worried by Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB’s, call for boycott of elections in Anambra State, a group of lawyers in the state have petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to probe IPOB activities.

The lawyers, under the aegis of Anambra State Lawyers in Defence of Democracy (ASLAD), has urged AGF to ensure the commencement of a “high-powered clinical investigation” the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB activities.

Kanu and his IPOB group have continued their campaign of no elections in any of the five South East states, beginning from the coming November governorship election in Anambra State, until the Federal Government allows a referendum for Biafra.

But the lawyers, sad with this development, condemned IPOB’s position in their letter and called on the AGF to use every available instrument and powers of the Nigerian State in his office against IPOB.

“The IPOB have taken a position that they would ‘boycott’ the forthcoming Anambra 2017 elections. We do not have any problem with them on this position. However, our challenge with IPOB is their seeming inability to appreciate the meaning of the word ‘boycott’ as it relates to Anambra election. We are worried that their mode of propagating their ‘No referendum, no election’ mantra suggests that the word ‘boycott’ has another meaning assigned to it in their own dictionary which is ‘disruption’ of all legitimate activities of government and electioneering activities calculated at striking terror in the minds of the citizens who have made up their mind to discharge their civic duty on the 18th day of November, 2017.

“Sir, the Nnamdi Kanu led IPOB are always quick to raise the green banner of ‘non-violence’ and take refuge under its canopied ambience whereas their official dissemination channel, Radio Biafra, is a flowing river of hate-speeches, incitement to violence and war.

“Hate speech leads to war and war leads to deaths and, therefore, IPOB preaches violence. In the South-East (especially in Onitsha which is our commercial nerve centre), the IPOB miscreants extort money from traders after intimidating them. IPOB hoodlums illegally mount roadblocks to force other citizens to buy their Biafra flags and insignia not minding whether such citizens subscribe to their separatist ideology or whether such citizens have the money to pay for the said flags. They harass citizens and threaten them with violence,” the statement read in part.

Read also: Why S’East govs want Ndigbo in North to stay and not panic, despite quit notice, hate song

Among other accusations, the lawyers said that IPOB members intimidate and close shops of marketers in Onitsha and that “IPOB street urchins have on two remarkable occasions disrupted campaigns rallies and have most infamously invaded and desecrated St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State where the Governor was to worship [with their chants of no referendum, no election]. Indeed, they have a rich history of mischief.”

The group’s petition dated August 14, is copied to the United Nations Mission in Nigeria, Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, The European Union Mission to Nigeria, National Human Rights Commission, The Inspector-General of Police, The Defence Headquarters, The Director-General, State Security Service, The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, The Federal House of Representatives, South-East Governors Forum and Anambra Council of Traditional Rulers.
By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

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