[Photos]: Kanu pays tribute to Biafra warlord; speaks about protest

Nnamdi Kanu paid a visit to Biafra warlord, Col. Joseph Achuzia. He described him as one of the greatest combatant in the 20th century. He urged igbos to honour him and other Biafra heroes by staying at home on May 30

Nnamdi Kanu has paid tribute to a Biafra warlord, Colonel Joseph Achuzia as he celebrates his 90th birthday describing him as one of the greatest battle commanders in the 20th century. Sources close to leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra in an exclusive report to NAIJ.com said he paid a visit to Achuzia.

He reportedly described Achuzia as a brave soldier who with fewer soldiers was able to defeat the Nigerian soldiers during the Biafra war.

The family source said Kanu reiterated that it was important to honour those who fought during the Biafra war by staying at home on May 30. He said: "His name is Col. Achuzia "Air Raid". He defeated the British-backed Murtala Muhammed led Nigerian Army at the famous Abagana battle. He was to repeat that feat later when he got the order to lead the Biafran counter offensive that recaptured Owerri from the British sponsored Nigerian Army with fewer men and ammunition. Marshall Zhukov of the Soviet Red Army is the only commander comparable to Achuzia in the last 100 years.

"Col. Achuzia and Brigadier Timothy Onwuatuegwu are the finest soldiers the world has ever known and they are Biafrans. We celebrate him today and must honour his colleagues on the 30th of May with sit-at-home."

Biafra: Why Igbo people should be allowed to leave Nigeria – ECA

The Deputy Publicity Secretary of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, Dede Uzor A. Uzor has given his reasons why Ndigbo should be allowed to leave Nigeria.

In his statement, Dede Uzor declared that the ECA had decided to throw its weight behind the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and others to fight for a state of Biafra.

He said the current administration does not recognize Ndigbo in any way.

According to him, “Going by the position of the present administration of General Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Nigerian citizens into various strategic positions, Ndigbo remain grossly marginalized and disappointed.

“The effect of what led to the civil war remains unresolved till date.

“For instance, no Igboman is in top four echelon in the strategic security apparatus of the nation, ranging from Chief Of Army Staff, COAS, Chief Of Defence Staff, CDS, Insoector-General of Police, IGP, Director-General of State Security Services, D-G SSS, Specurity Adviser, SSA, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, NAFDAC, NIMASA, Aviation, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, among others.

“Does it mean that no Igboman is qualified or educationally sound to hold such a strategic positions? These are the issues behind the continued agitation of ndigbo for restoration or actualization of Biafra.

“Since these fundamental issues are yet to be addressed, we in the ECA would want to align ourselves with some prominent Igbo personalities like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, second republic vice president who are in support of Nnamdi Kanu’s continuation with his clamour for the restoration of Biafra.


“We want the Yorubas and other like-minded people, including the South outh to continue to throw their weight and support behind Ndigbo since no individual or group have regretted supporting Ndigbo and I must emphasize that Ndigbo remains trusted allies to any group of individual who wishes to align with them.”

120 countries to celebrate May 30 Biafra Heroes Day – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has stated that over 120 countries and territories around the world outside Biafraland will participate in the heroes day march declared by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu to honour those who lost their lives during the civil war.

IPOB stated this in a press release by its Media and publicity Secretary Comrade Emma Powerful.

He said the group plans a total shutdown of Biafra’s territories during the march which will be observed with a sit-at-home protest.

Part of the press release reads, “The remembrance of our fallen heroes and heroines on 30th of May 2017 will go down in history as one of the greatest events the world would ever witness. IPOB will use this event to conclusively prove to the whole world that we are ready for the upcoming referendum for Biafra sovereignty.”

Powerful said that countries outside Nigeria would stage a peaceful march during the event, but in Nigeria, all Biafrans were expected to stay indoors and avoid any march or protest as this may give security agents reason to shoot at them.

He added that so far, their members in most countries of the world have secured the permission of the authorities in those countries to hold the protest march, and have been allotted venues.

“IPOB families in the UK, Europe, Asia, Middle East, USA and many others across the world have managed to secure marching permits from their relevant authorities because of this historic 30th of May event.

“In almost all countries where IPOB has presence, including Angola, Mozambique, Congo DRC, Namibia and Tanzania have respectfully perfected their own arrangements to honour our heroes and heroines on that particular day.

“In UK, IPOB has secured their venue at Trafalgar Square, London for a rally. It is however interesting to note that the Deputy National Coordinator of IPOB UK reported that the British Metropolitan Police gave express permission for the march on Trafalgar Square, saying that he knows the group and its leader and that they were not violent.

“He said that he knows that since Mazi Nnamdi Kanu started his street protests in London, there had never been any breach of public peace compared to similar protests by others groups that have always degenerated into scuffles and altercations with law enforcement agencies in the London area.”

Photos: IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu Freed At Last!

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has been released from prison.

Kanu was released from Kuje Prison this evening to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who signed his bail documents in the afternoon.

The IPOB leader had earlier met all the conditions attached to his granted him by Justice Binta Nyako on Tuesday.

The bail conditions were perfected by the presence of the Chairman, South East Senate caucus and former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu. The Jewish Rabbi was flown in from Port Harcourt.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday admitted Nnamdi Kanu, to bail on health grounds. Justice Binta Nyako, however, gave 12 conditions which he must fulfill to be released on bail, and to continue to enjoy the temporary freedom.

he second surety must be a highly respected Jewish leader since Mr. Kanu said his religion is Judaism



The third surety must be a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja

The IPOB leader must deposit his Nigerian passport

He must also deposit his British passport with the court

He must provide the court with reports on the progress of his health and treatment on a monthly basis.

There was also an order that he must deposit his Nigerian and British passports to the court. This means that he cannot travel out of the country.

The conditions include that Kanu must not hold rallies. He must not grant interviews.

He must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people.

He must provide three sureties in the sum of N100 million each.

One of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a senator.

The second surety must be a highly respected Jewish leader since Mr. Kanu said his religion is Judaism



The third surety must be a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja
M
The IPOB leader must deposit his Nigerian passport

He must also deposit his British passport with the court

He must provide the court with reports on the progress of his health and treatment on a monthly basis.

There was also an order that he must deposit his Nigerian and British passports to the court. This means that he cannot travel out of the country.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, fulfills bail conditions

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, fulfilled the bail conditions granted by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The bail condition was perfected through the presence of the Chairman, South East Senate caucus and former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu. The Jewish Rabbi was flown in from Port Harcourt.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday admitted Nnamdi Kanu, to bail on health grounds. Justice Binta Nyako, however, gave 12 conditions which he must fulfill to be released on bail, and to continue to enjoy the temporary freedom.

The conditions are:
— Mr. Kanu must not hold rallies.
— He must not grant interviews.
— He must not be in a crowd of more than 10 people.
— He must provide three sureties in the sum of N100 million each.
— One of the sureties must be a senior highly placed person of Igbo extraction such as a senator.
— The second surety must be a highly respected Jewish leader since Mr. Kanu said his religion is Judaism
— The third surety must be a highly respected person who owns landed property and is resident in Abuja
— The IPOB leader must deposit his Nigerian passport
— He must also deposit his British passport with the court
— He must provide the court with reports on the progress of his health and treatment on a monthly basis.
— The order for him to deposit his Nigerian and British passports also mean he cannot travel out of the country (If this is considered, it is the thirteenth condition).

IPOB: Court reserves ruling on review of witness protection

The Federal High Court, Abuja , on Thursday reserved ruling on whether or not it will reverse its order on witness protection in the ongoing trial of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu to April 25.

Justice Binta Nyako , on March 27, insisted that she would not review her judgment on the issue of protecting the identity of the witnesses as long they were security operatives .

“ I will not vary my order on protection of security operatives ; It is either they wear a mask or are behind a screen .

“ Security operatives need to be protected not because of this case but because of the future , and so as long as the witnesses are security personnel , they will be taken behind a screen , ” Nyako said.

But counsel to the defendants maintained that since some of the charges against the defendants had been struck out, there was the need for the order to be reviewed to reflect the current charges.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecuting counsel , Mr Shuaibu Labaran, told the court that the matter was slated for argument on the application to review the court’ s decision on witness protection.

Counsel to Kanu , Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor told the court that he had filed an application asking the court to review its stand on protecting the identity of witnesses in the case .

Ejiofor said that part of the reason he filed the application was on the grounds that six out of the initial 11- count charge against the defendant were struck out.

He prayed the court to vacate the order it made allowing the prosecution witnesses to give evidence behind a shield and to instead order the witnesses to testify in an open court.

Mr E. I Eseme , counsel to the third defendant , Benjamin Madubugwu , in his argument , also prayed the court for the same relief, adding that his application was brought pursuant to Section 6(6 ) of the 1999 Constitution .

He urged the court to review the order it made on Dec . 13, 2016, to shield witnesses , set aside the order and direct that all witnesses should testify in public.

Eseme added that his client was not standing trial for any of the offences that required witness protection.

According to him , Section 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that it is mandatory for proceedings in all criminal trials to be public.

He noted that there was no counter - affidavit from the prosecution, adding that it could only mean that the facts were not contradicted and so they were not opposing the application .

Mr Chukwuma Ozougwu, counsel to the fourth defendant, David Nwawuisi , also towed the same line of argument and urged the court to grant the application in favour of his client.

Labaran, in his reply , prayed the court to dismiss the three applications on the grounds that they were frivolous and a deliberate attempt to delay the prosecution of the case .

He told the court that the claim by the defence counsel that since he did not file a counter affidavit, the court should assume that he was in support of the application should be discountenanced.

According to him , if the defendants have a problem with the ruling of the court that witnesses should be protected , they should appeal the decision.

He added that moreover, it was only journalists and the general public that would not see the witnesses but only hear them as all the defendants, the lawyers and the judge would see the witnesses .

He said the order was granted based on the discretionary powers given to the judge by Section 232 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Justice Nyako adjourned the matter until April 25 to rule on both the application to review the witness protection order and bail.


NAN