Kanu’s lawyer lambasts ex-gov Kalu over claims IPOB leader has escaped to UK

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzo Kalu, has been described by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, as “a drowning man, looking for where to perch.”

Ejiofor’s criticism of the former governor was sequel to Kalu’s claim that the leader of IPOB, the group recently proscribed and labeled terrorist was not in military custody but has travelled to the United Kingdom.

Orji Kalu had in an interview at the weekend with a popular newspaper said, “Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he traveled to the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak. He was not arrested by anybody. He left the country on his own.

“One of his relations has spoken to me and explained everything because I wanted to see him and talk to him wherever he was and see how I could meet some Federal Government officials on his issue. I also wanted to see ways of talking to the President about him, and find common ground but his family told me that he has left the country unless they are lying to me.

“I believe, whether he had left the country or not, he is not with the military because I asked the Commander of the 14 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. A.K Ibrahim, who is a very fine and good soldier, well educated and dedicated, and he told me that they don’t know his whereabouts and I am sure, the Department of State Services have the same information.”

Read also: 13 days after Kanu’s disappearance, lawyer prays court to order Army chief Buratai to produce him

But responding, Ejiofor in a statement he made available to newsmen on Sunday described Kalu as a “drowning man, looking for where to perch.” He added that the only reason the former governor had transformed himself to become the Federal Government and military spokesman was to curry favour so that he might be freed from his current corruption trial.

The development coming at a time Kanu’s lawyer had dragged the Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. – General Tukur Buratai, to produce Kanu in court.

Ejiofor had declared Kanu, who is currently being prosecuted for alleged treasonable offense missing after the Nigerian Army, carrying out ‘Operation Python Dance II’ in the South-east, on September 14, allegedly invaded the IPOB leader’s home.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

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