By Our Reporter
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor has raised fresh alarm over the health condition of the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), even as he calls for the intervention of the European Union (EU) in securing a release for the Biafra freedom fighter.
Ejimakor, disclosed in a letter he sent to the EU on Wednesday, November 16, a copy of which he posted on his Twitter page @AloyEjimakor, called for an urgent reprieve for his client, even as he urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to cease further criminal prosecution of Kanu and instead constructively engage him in seeking a political solution to the Biafran question.
“Your excellency, our decision to lay this matter before the EU Mission in Nigeria (and, by extension, to your home governments) was propelled by the stellar human rights record of the EU and the supranational diplomatic influence the EU or the Mission can bring to bear on the Government of Nigeria and persuade it to do the right thing.
“We are also very alarmed at the worsening health conditions of Mr Kanu, exacerbated by the inhumane detention conditions to which he is being subjected, including his solitary confinement since June 27, 2021.
“We trust, therefore, that your mission and home governments will give the most urgent and expeditious attention and consideration to our humble prayers,” the lawyer stated.
Ejimakor further pleaded with the EU Delegation in Nigeria to urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to promptly implement the opinion of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and the judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Umuahia) regarding Kanu’s case.
He also alleged that the Nigerian government is detaining Kanu in solitary confinement, stressing that the intervention of the EU would be necessary for urging the Federal Government to be “guided in all matters relating to Mr Kanu by the letters and spirit of the United Nations Working Group Opinion, the judgment of the Federal High Court of Nigeria (Umuahia), the judgment of the High Court of Abia State and the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria”.
Although the Court of Appeal had earlier on October 13, 2022, discharged Kanu, the Federal Government refused to release him from custody, claiming that he was only discharged and not acquitted. Calls for the release of the IPOB leader who was controversially extradited to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021, have fallen on deaf ears, even as an Abuja division of the Federal High Court on November 14 adjourned his trial indefinitely.
The presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako, ruled that the court would await the decision of the Supreme Court on appeals that were lodged by both the Federal Government and Kanu’s defence team.
During proceedings, last Monday, the prosecution team led by the Director of Public Prosecution, M.B. Abubakar, informed the court that Kanu refused to present himself for his planned re-arraignment on new charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
Recalled that last week, the Federal Government filed an amended seven counts of terrorism against the detained IPOB leader. The amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, contained all earlier sustained allegations against Kanu. Appeals filed by the Federal Government and Kanu are pending at the Supreme Court. The Federal Government is challenging the Court of Appeal judgment that quashed the 15-count terrorism charge it entered against Kanu.
