From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned posters of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, depicting him as a criminal, flooding most streets of Abuja.
The poster, which has Kanu’s photograph, was also boldly written on it: “Nnamdi Kanu must pay for killing our security agents and innocent citizens.”
While condemning the act in a statement released to newsmen, the Spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, said it is not only false, but also prejudicial to his ongoing trial.
“These posters bearing his image alongside a skull-and-crossbones symbol with inflammatory words like “Nnamdi Kanu must pay for killing our security agents and innocent citizens” are not only false but also dangerously prejudicial to his ongoing trial.
Powerful further claimed that the poster is aimed at influencing the judiciary, intimidate the legal process, and poison public opinion against its leader.
Meanwhile, the group has maintained that Kanu has never been convicted of any crime anywhere in the world.
“No element of the spurious charges brought against him occurred in Abuja, yet he is being tried in this highly hostile jurisdiction.
“The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has declared his rendition from Kenya illegal and called for his immediate release.
“This desperate campaign by the Nigerian state confirms what IPOB has long warned: Abuja is not and cannot be a neutral venue for any legal proceeding involving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, must recognise that the atmosphere has been irreparably poisoned and recuse himself or move the proceedings to a neutral and legally appropriate venue,” Powerful stated.
Following the development, IPOB has called on the international community to condemn his retrial while urging the UK government to intervene on behalf of their citizen and ensure his fundamental rights are protected.
Also, the group enjoined the Nigerian judiciary to rise above intimidation and act in accordance with the law.