IPOB
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer Ejimakor Slams Asari Dokubo.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer Ejimakor slams Asari Dokubo.
Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor was reacting to Dokubo’s call that President Bola Tinubu should not release Kanu. After visiting Tinubu last week, Dokubo had said that releasing Kanu would heighten insecurity in the South East. He noted that Kanu’s release would amount to a reward for criminality.
NewsReport Nigeria reports that condemning Dokubo’s remark, Ejimakor said Kanu was not a criminal. A statement by Ejimakor reads: “Dokubo should be well-advised that the conduct that led to Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition, detention and trial is called ‘self-determination’, which has been held by a competent Nigerian court in the celebrated case of Sunday Igboho, to be legal and not criminal.
He said: “Dokubo has, himself, once agitated for self-determination by demanding the creation of the Niger Delta Republic, which led to his long incarceration in the recent past. Thus, by calling on President Tinubu not to release Nnamdi Kanu, Dokubo has unwittingly delegitimised the generous amnesty granted him by late President Yar’Adua, affirmed and honoured by former Presidents Jonathan and Buhari but yet to be affirmed and honoured by President Tinubu.
“Finally, Dokubo should be reminded that the matter of Nnamdi Kanu, even though capable of being addressed politically by President Tinubu, now lies before courts of Nigeria, Kenya, Britain and two international tribunals, before which lawyers are separately leading legal efforts to undo the crushing injustice being meted against Kanu and members of IPOB.
“Thus, ending Nnamdi Kanu’s extant extrajudicial detention is capable of springing from a sound political decision of the President, because Nnamdi Kanu committed no crime. Conversely, his detention can also end with a faithful implementation of any of the victories he has garnered in Nigerian courts and the international community.”
Earlier on Sunday, IPOB lambasted Dokubo for seeking continuous detention of Kanu. Kanu has been in detention on terrorism charges since he was brought back from Kenya on June 19, 2021.
In a statement, Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesperson, said those using Kanu’s “illegal detention to look for oil guard contract” in Aso Rock should be guided in their utterances.
Powerful warned that Kanu’s name should not be used to “buy favour” in the corridors of power.
“We are cautioning those campaigning for continuous illegal detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to be aware of dangers ahead. Kanu is the only innocent political prisoner in Nigeria because of ethnic profiling and prejudice,” the proscribed separatist group said.
“He has not committed any crime known to local and international laws. Nigeria government must release him unconditionally as ordered by the courts or risk paying the price of disobedience to laws.”