Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra,
IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday,
tackled the Acting President, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo, for declaring the Biafran agitation
as unconstitutional.
Kanu, in a world press conference he held
through his team of lawyers in Abuja,
maintained that Osinbajo’s view about
Biafra was “patently misconceived and
inherently faulty”, despite his rank as a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In a statement
signed by his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor,
Kanu, insisted that “extra judicial remarks”
Osinbajo made before the Igbo Council of
Traditional Rulers, in reference to Biafran
agitation, was offensive to section 2 of the
1999 constitution, as amended.
The statement read in part: “We are
presently drifting into the narrative that had
hitherto kept our client in unlawful
incarceration for 18 months, in clear breach
of positive orders of court that directed for
his unconditional release. Unhealthy
interference by the Executive Arm in the
matter before the Court, vide
pronouncements capable of putting fears in
the court is a case in point.
“This is evident in the recent extra judicial
remarks by the Acting President, clearly
contained in his presentation before the
Igbo Council of Traditional Rulers, that the
agitation for Biafra is unconstitutional as it
offends section 2 of the 1999 Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as
amended, 2011, and consequent threat of
arrest and imprisonment of those that
exercise their unquestionable and
inalienable rights to self determination.
“This declaration is respectfully considered
as not only provocative, and unacceptable,
but a clear case of undue interference with
judicial process, which have the capacity of
distorting the mindset of the Judicial Officer
seized of our client’s case.
“It is important to remind the Acting
President that our client’s present political
trial originated from his legitimate exercise
of his constitutionally guaranteed rights to
self determination as clearly provided for
under extant laws, and international
instruments/covenants.
“It is therefore reasonably expected that any
of such extra judicial remarks, should not
emanate from the revered office of the
Acting President. “With due reverence to the
Acting President, and his rank as a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria, we deem it obligatory
to state the correct position of the law as it
relates to his faulty position.
“We observed most respectfully that the
learned silk made this remark in direct
response to Quit Notice threats and
ultimatum handed down to Igbos living in
the Northern part of the counter, by a
faceless and uninformed group, going by
the name of Arewa Youths Consultative
Forum.
“But it most be noted very humbly that it is a
mistake to equate the lawful and legitimate
aspirations and agitations for Biafra with
the lawful, illegal and illegitimate Quit Notice,
and threat given to the Igbo People to leave
the North by this group.
“We submit most humbly that the right to
self determination, recognizable under
various instruments which Nigeria is a State
Party is clearly provided for under Article
20(1) of the African Charter on Human and
Peoples Rights (Ratification and
Enforcement) ( Act Cap 10) Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 1990.
“This law provides thus: Article 20 (1) ‘All
Peoples shall have right to existence. They
shall have the unquestionable and
inalienable rights to self determination.
They shall freely determine their political
status and shall pursue their economic and
social development according to the policy
they have freely chosen’.
“The above law has been in force in our
jurisdiction since 1990 having been ratified
vide Ratification and Enforcement Act, Laws
of Federation. It is our respectful view that
the declaration by the Acting President that
Biafran agitation is unconstitutional, is with
due respect patently misconceived and
inherently faulty.
