- Demand his unconditional release
From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
As the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) resumes on Tuesday, the group has slammed the Federal Government describing the resumption as “declaration of war on injustice” as well as an “act of judicial terrorism.”
Speaking on the matter in a statement he released to newsmen, its spokesperson , Emma Powerful who condemned the resumed trial added that it is not only a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but a flagrant breach of international law which he declared is a mockery of natural justice.
Rather than resumption of the trial,Powerful said Kanu ought to be released unconditionally. “We call on all lovers of freedom, justice, and the rule of law both within Nigeria and across the globe to stand against this travesty of justice and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu”.
Further stating why he should be released Powerful said “Mazi Kanu was denied access to consular assistance and legal representation during his rendition, further compounding the illegality of Nigeria’s actions.
“The resumption of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s trial is not just unlawful; it is an act of judicial terrorism. The Nigerian government’s defiance of court orders, including the July 2021 ruling by the ECOWAS Court and the October 2022 Appeal Court judgment discharging Kanu, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the rule of law.
“As Mazi Kanu himself poignantly stated, “When the rule of law itself seems lunatic, who knows where injustice lies?” The Federal High Court, under the stewardship of justices like Hon. Justice Binta Nyako and Hon. Justice Omotosho, risks etching its name in infamy by proceeding with a trial that is fundamentally unlawful.
“We remind the newly appointed senior advocates in Mazi Kanu’s defense team of their ethical duty to uphold justice without compromise. They must not lend legitimacy to a process that is void ab initio.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a victim of an assassination attempt on his life, which forced him to flee Nigeria for his safety. There is no law—whether in Nigeria, on earth, or in heaven—that sanctions the kidnapping of a person who escaped such a grave threat.
“The Nigerian government’s actions are not only a violation of legal principles but also an affront to morality and natural justice. To subject Kanu to a trial under these circumstances is to reward lawlessness and embolden tyranny.
“We call on the international community, including the United Nations, African Union, European Union, and human rights organizations, to intervene and halt this judicial travesty. The world must not stand idly by while Nigeria descends into a state of lawlessness under the guise of legal proceedings.
” The rule of law is not a suggestion; it is the foundation of any civilized society. To proceed with Mazi Kanu’s trial is to declare war on justice itself”. Powerful stated.