Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has shed light on why Kanu was not arrested during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. According to Ejimakor, Jonathan did not consider self-determination a crime, which led to Kanu being spared from arrest.
Nnamdi Kanu, a prominent figure in the Biafra agitation movement, was initially arrested in 2015 on charges of treason, terrorism, and managing an unlawful society. He was subsequently taken to court but was granted bail in 2017 by Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court.
Following his release on bail, Kanu left Nigeria and sought refuge in Europe. However, his fortunes took a turn in 2021 when he was rearrested in Kenya. Since then, he has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria, with his trial ongoing.
Speaking at the ‘Free Nnamdi Kanu’ conference held in Washington, Aloy Ejimakor highlighted the stance of the previous administration. “The rights to self-determination is a right that is allowed internationally, domestically, and continentally,” he emphasized. “The formation of IPOB did not break any law of the United Kingdom or that of Nigeria.”
Ejimakor further explained that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested between 2012 and 2015 because the government at the time recognized that self-determination was not a criminal offense. However, when a new government came into power in May 2015, they chose to view self-determination as a criminal activity.
As a result, Kanu was arrested in Lagos and faced charges of treason, illegal importation, and insulting the president. This marked a significant shift in the government’s approach towards self-determination movements.
The Biafra agitation, led by Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, has been a contentious issue in Nigeria, with varying opinions on the matter. While some argue for the right to self-determination, others express concerns about the unity and stability of the country.
As the trial of Nnamdi Kanu continues, the legal and political landscape surrounding the Biafra movement remains complex. The revelations shared by Aloy Ejimakor provide insights into the differing perspectives on self-determination and shed light on the events that led to Kanu’s current situation.
The outcome of Kanu’s trial and the broader implications for the Biafra agitation will undoubtedly continue to be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike.
Nnamdi Kanu And His Trials By Ordeal – By Aloy Ejimakor
It’s not acceptable, even by the lowest standards of fairness, that it took the Court of Appeal only two weeks to undo a sound judgment that discharged Nnamdi Kanu from his long and tortuous seven years of ordeal with the…
— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) May 28, 2023