The Igbo Lawyers Association (ILA) has mobilized and teamed up with, Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to ensure he gets the best legal representation in his forthcoming trial.
Kanu was last week rearrested by the Nigerian government and is scheduled to be in court for the continuation of his trial on 26th July 2021.
July 26th marks a fresh beginning to a trial that was halted four years ago, when he narrowly escaped from the country after soldiers invaded his home at Afaraukwu-Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State capital
Speaking after their emergency meeting held in Aba, the association led by Chief Chuks Mouma (SAN) condemned the Illegal manner Kanu was abducted and brought to Nigeria.
Reading their communiqué after the emergency meeting, the spokesman for the group, Barr. Ukpai Ukairo called on the British government to interrogate the illegality involved in how Kanu was moved from Kenya to Nigeria.
ILA stressed that in the words of the Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami, the IPOB leader was “intercepted” and brought to Nigeria which suggests kidnapping and abduction and lacking in any element of a legal arrest attached to it.
The Igbo lawyers noted that one of its main objectives is to fight and protect the justifiable course of the Igbo man to fairness, justice and equity in Nigeria.
In pursuance of the above aforementioned objective, ILA said it will henceforth, interface with all Pro-Igbo organisations including the World Igbo Congress for the attainment of the objective.
“Following the recent event which has fast-tracked the coming together and formation of this association, we want to make the following clear statements: “We’re calling on the British government to interrogate the interception of a British citizen, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and the subsequent detention in Nigeria. “We’re doing this because we want the British government to ensure the reversal of the illegality of that interception.
“We are also giving notice that Igbo Lawyers Association will mobilise lawyers from across the globe to put up the best defence available under municipal and International law in defence of the rights of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“This is because we stand on the pedestal that there must be a fair trial within the prism of settled International guidelines to ensure justice. We’re already in touch with Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor and he’s aware. “Honourable Attorney General of the Federation used the word interception and not arrest because he knows that what happened cannot come under the definition of an arrest.
“An interception is a kidnap and abduction. Having intercepted him, brought him to court, what we’re saying is that all tenets of justice must be observed,” part of the communiqué reads.
