Activities of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) have pitted the
group’s leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, against the South East Peoples Assembly
(SEPA).
For organising a sit-at -home after he obtained a court bail, SEPA has
asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to revoke the bail granted to Mazi
Kanu, a pro-secession leader.
IPOB in collaboration with other groups, on Tuesday organised a
successful sit-at-home in South East, an action SEPA regards as a breach
of the bail conditions granted Kanu.
Kanu, leader of IPOB, has been facing trial for treason and terrorism,
being a major sponsor for the secession of South East from Nigeria on
the platform of IPOB.
He was arrested on October 15, 2015 in Lagos and eventually granted bail in May this year with some conditions.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, admitted him to bail on health grounds.
Justice Binta Nyako said that she was convinced that Kanu was ill and
needed more medical attention than the Nigerian Prisons was giving him.
She, however, ordered that while on bail, Kanu must not hold any
rallies, grant any interviews or be in a crowd of more than 10 people.
Nyako gave other bail conditions to include three sureties in the sum of N100 million each.
The judge further ordered that Kanu must deposit both his Nigerian and
British passports with the court and that a report on the progress of
his health must be made available to her on a monthly basis.
She adjourned the matter till July 11 and 12, for definite commencement of trial.
However, SEPA has accused Kanu of infringing on the bail conditions.
In a letter to the Chief Judge of the High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta,
the President of SEPA, Prince Chukwuemeka Okoriein, as the court, as a
matter of urgency, to revoke Kanu’s bail.
He said that Kanu has continued to conduct himself in a manner that was
totally at variance with terms and conditions of his bail.
He listed the infractions to include holding rallies, grant of interviews or be in a crowd of more than 10 people.
“Obviously, the recklessness with which he made media statements and
even organised the ‘Sit at Home and Stay Indoor’ protest to mark the so
called BIAFRA HEROS DAY on Tuesday, 30th May, 2017 is a threat to the
unity, security and peace of Nigeria as a sovereign nation.
“We have no iota of doubt that he is trying to push our dear country
Nigeria into an unnecessary precarious situation for his personal agenda
and those of his paymasters.
“Sir, our decision to write this demand letter to your good office at
this time is to forestall another civil unrest in Nigeria, particularly
around the Igbo speaking region.
“As you well know, the struggle by Kanu to be relevant under the guise
of actualisation of Biafra does not enjoy the support of right thinking
Igbo people both at home and in diaspora.
“That he suddenly addresses himself as the Supreme Leader of Biafra
points to how arrogant and disrespectful he is to legitimately
constituted authority in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The pertinent question on our minds as stakeholders is: Has Kanu been
consistent in providing the court with reports on the progress of his
health and treatment on a monthly basis since he was granted bail?
“We fear that if Kanu is not tamed by Your Lordship as a matter of
urgency, the IPOB may create a situation where it becomes difficult if
not impossible for genuine development to take place in the South East
under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
“History has taught us that the Civil War of 1967-1970 started gradually
and later turned out to be something that caused our people
unimaginable losses.
“We cannot afford to fold our arms this time and allow a stooge imported
from the United Kingdom by stark enemies of Nigeria to maintain a state
of belligerence against the nation and keep the name of Igbo people in
the news for the wrong reasons.”
Source: Vanguard
