Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA) has cautioned the Federal Government against the continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by the Department of State Service (DSS).
The Igbo lawyers said that it is unlawful to detain an accused and at the same time, vehemently refused to bring him before the court to look into the allegations levelled against him.
News Echo reports that the DSS on the 26th of July 2021 failed to produce the IPOB leader at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, a situation that made the court adjourn the matter to October 21, 2021 (Thursday).
Nigerians can still recall that the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, informed the High Court in Abuja that the IPOB leader could not be produced because of lapses in logistics.
With the adjourned date for the case of Kanu now three days ahead, ILA insists that he must be produced in court come 21st of October, as it will not entertain any excuses for his unavailability in court.
In a statement signed and made available to journalists in Aba on Sunday by Barr. Victor Onweremadu, Coordinator, ILA and the secretary, Barr. Felix Jonathan, the group said that it is craving for justice, and a fair hearing for Kanu and his release from detention without further ado.
The Igbo lawyers insist that Kanu has not committed any offence known to the law through his peaceful agitation, adding that the Federal Government have failed woefully to engage the IPOB leader and other agitators who called for self-determination.
ILA called on the government to take note that Igbo Lawyers as a group will be sending delegates of senior lawyers in solidarity with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday in Abuja
“Today Northern elders have maintained serious influence and discrete bargain with the FGN to look into the demands of Bandits, Boko-Haram and Monstrous Fulani Herdsmen.
“Attention is discretely being given to their demands but IPOB doesn’t deserve the mercy and attention of the Government.
“Those effectively agitating/exercising their constitutional guarantee rights to self-determination are being killed like flies by Nigeria Security Agents.
“Our people want to see Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hale and hearty on that day and consequently regain his freedom which will substantially douse the rising tension in the South East.
“We condemn in strongest terms the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demand for his immediate and unconditional release because he has committed no offence known to law.
“It is pertinent to note that our group is getting a regular briefing from Ifeanyi Ejiofor the lead counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the development in the case in Abuja.
“Aside from the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Igbo lawyers Association will continue to fight for the justifiable cause of Igbo man anywhere in the country.”
ILA also called for no violence from all angles and cautioned the Security Agents to respect the wishes of our people who are to sit at home on Thursday, stressing that nobody should be harm, arrested or molested.
“Let the Security Agents be reminded that it was during a peaceful rally conducted by unarmed youths at various points in the South-East during which rallies our people who were merely praying for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s victory in court on that day were gunned down by trigger happy Security Agents.
“The bloody onslaught continued in Afor Market, in Nkpor Town, Idemili North LGA of Anambra State where many were murdered in cold blood. Let the World be put on notice that these death has not been swept under the carpet, that the killings must be challenged in court soon.”
