Speaking with journalists on Friday, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who is one of
Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB), has disclosed that he has no ties with the Movement for the
Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta Avengers
(NDA).
Recall that the militant groups had given the release of Kanu, who
has been in Kuje prison in Abuja since 2015, as one of the conditions
for the return of peace in the Niger Delta region.
But the legal practitioner, Ejiofor, said his client has no
relationship with any militant group, hence MEND could not have
represented him in any negotiation with the government.
“In the past few days, the media was awash with news of
negotiation going on between the federal government and members of MEND,
where our client’s name (Nnamdi kanu) conspicuously featured.
“It is on that note that we wish to inform the general public
that Nnamdi kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any form of
relationship with the members of MEND.
“As such MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of
Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation, going
on between MEND and the federal government. The general public is
accordingly advised to ignore, discountenance and disregard the
falsehood being peddled by MEND.
“Nnamdi Kanu does not know them. However, Nnamdi Kanu is not
averse to a political solution in resolving the present
politically-orchestrated ordeal. Nnamdi Kanu welcomes genuine political
solution to this case,” he said.
Reacting to the federal government’s decision on Thursday to release some members of the group
who were arrested in February, Kanu’s lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor
and the Amoebi Nzelu, said they were not opposed to talks with the
government.
“Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to political solution in resolving his present politically orchestrated ordeal.
“He welcomes genuine political solution to this case. Nnamdi
Kanu has people of proven integrity and impeccable character that will
negotiate on his behalf, based on his demands when communication on this
effect is established.”
While responding to a question on whether Kanu would abandon his
campaign for an independent state of Biafra in exchange for freedom,
Ameobi Nzelu, another lawyer, said that his client would not jettison
the agitation even if he was released.
“It is not easy to drop an ideology. IPOB is bigger than Nnamdi Kanu. Self-determination is as a result of marginalisation,” he said.
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