*We have no hand in Eze Asor's murder, Ebubeagu does- IPOB
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB has praised Nnamdi Kanu's counsels, Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Mike Ozekhome, SAN for their dogged legal fight for the release of its detained leader.
This comes as the High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Binta Nyako last Monday adjourned hearing on the amended 7 count terrorism charges brought by the Federal Government against the leader of the IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu until the hearing and determination of the Federal Government's appeal pending before the Supreme Court.
The Federal Government is asking the Supreme Court to reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal that discharged and acquitted Kanu of terrorism charges.
In a statement by IPOB Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group said its legal team has continued to show that it is ever prepared to respond accordingly to any form of legal battle brought upon it by the Nigerian government.
The statement said, “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by the Prophet, Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kanu wish to recognize the high level of preparedness demonstrated by our legal team in answering the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami wherever he calls Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB in the Nigeria court system.
"Both the Lead Counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, and Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s most trusted, reported that the judge told Malami and his goons that both the first case and the second undocumented case are adjourned to await the hearing and final determination of the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court during their last appearance at Hon. Justice Binta Nyako’s High Court, Abuja on Monday, November 14, 2022.
“We also recognize that these two leaders work with a whole host of brilliant lawyers who work tirelessly behind the scenes and upfront in the courts to defend our leader and our movement.
IPOB further stated that the Court also told the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami that it cannot entertain both the former and amended charges brought against Kanu by the federal government.
"Malami was further admonished by the court that the former case and even the new one have both been prohibited from being heard for the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in any court.
“So, we the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) recognize these successes and winnings and want to congratulate our legal team for their act of bravery in the face of the Nigerian government’s intimidation and threats. We recognize the legal team for their continued doggedness in their fight with the monster called Nigeria,” IPOB said.
In an earlier statement, IPOB described the move to re-arraign Kanu as an attempt by those involved to "deplete the already depleted funds in their National coffers."
According to IPOB, "We told the world that the purported new charges and re-arraignment of our Leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that took place yesterday( Monday) 14th November 2022, before the Hon Justice Binta Nyako is a fraud designed to fleece the staggering sum of five hundred million Naira from the Federation of Nigeria's account because it has been established that no court in Nigeria can try our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU on any more charges."
Blame governor Uzodinma's Ebubeagu for the killing of Eze Asor- IPOB
Meanwhile, IPOB has dissociated its members and operatives of its security network ESN from the murder of Eze Ignatius Asor, the traditional ruler of Obudi Agwa in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
His Royal Highness Ignatius Asor, Image:Vanguard
Eze Asor was killed last Monday when some yet-to-be-identified gunmen invaded his palace in the early hours of the day and shot him and two of his guests.
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Thursday, IPOB alleged that the traditional ruler was killed by Governor Hope Uzodinma and the South-East security outfit, Ebubeagu for condemning the killing of his people and burning of their houses.
According to IPOB, Governor Uzodinma has been using the Ebubeagu militia to attack and kill the residents of Imo state in various parts of the state.
The IPOB statement said, “It is in the public domain the records of how Hope Uzodinma used his Ebubeagu militia in the mindless massacre of many Izombe indigenes. Uzodinma directed his murderous Ebubeagu militia to eliminate an innocent traditional ruler for condemning his killing of his people and burning their houses.
“He recruited notorious armed and criminal militias including Niger Delta militants to murder and destroy the properties of innocent civilians who don't support his Fulanisation agenda in Imo State.
“HRH Eze (Dr) Ignatius Asor of Obudi Agwa of Oguta had no problem with IPOB and ESN. IPOB and ESN don't kill our own. The Royal Father was murdered by Hope Uzodinma's Ebubeagu militia because the man asked him to stop his murderous actions against his subjects.
“IPOB has no hand in this barbarism and we cannot be involved in killing innocent citizens of Biafra that we are dying and going to prison to save. We commiserate with the families of the Monarch and those murdered in cold blood at Obudi Agwa in Oguta LGA, Imo State.
“Command spokesman of the police in Imo State, CSP Micheal Abattam should stop their usual public deception and properly investigate and identify the killers of this Royal Father instead of blaming IPOB. The game of arranging innocent people and having their claim to be IPOB members or ESN operatives to justify their blackmail is over.
“We are urging all traditional rulers, religious leaders, and all in Biafra land to understand that there is danger and all should beef up their securities. There is danger ahead because our enemies are relentlessly extorting and waging war against our leaders.”
Ebubeagu militia is part of the insecurity in the East- Intersociety
A Special report recently released by the human rights group, Intersociety also identified the Ebubeagu militia as part of the terror in the Southeast, especially in Imo and Ebonyi states.
According to the report signed by Intersociety principal officers; Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chinwe Umeche, Chidinma Udegbunam, and Obianuju Joy Igboeli, "It is no longer hidden that nefarious activities of the Nigerian Army-allied Ebubeagu militia and various secret Government funded armed groups counterfeiting mainstream nonstate actor anti-jihadist armed groups have been identified as part of the Nigerian military siege and terror in the East, especially after April 2021 formation of the killer militia.
"Sequentially speaking, Ebubeagu militia is Nigerian Army-allied while the armed counterfeiters killing, maiming, and abducting defenseless Easterners are Ebubeagu-allied; having been secretly formed and funded through the instrumentality and cover of Ebubeagu militia.
"As a matter of strong suspicion, Nigerian Army, Ebubeagu militia, armed counterfeiters, and Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen appear to have a symbiotic relationship or a common goal of unleashing terror and brigandage on Easterners-with Governments of Imo and Ebonyi States as their major promoters."
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