Treason charges: Kanu, freedom fighter not coup plotter – IPOB
- IPOB has praised former president Goodluck Jonathan, saying that he was intelligent enough not to arrest Nnamdi Kanu
- The IPOB's director of publicity, Emma Powerful, said that the Radio Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, could not be charged for treason or treasonable felony because he is a freedom fighter and not a coup plotter
- The group stated that those persecuting its leader for treason are either ignorant or are deliberately out to cause mischief as fight for self-determination does not constitute felony
PRO-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has insisted that the Radio Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is a freedom fighter and not a coup plotter and for this reason, he cannot be charged for treason or treasonable felony.
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The organisation posited in a statement signed by its director of publicity, Emma Powerful, that those persecuting their leader for treason are either ignorant or are deliberately out to cause mischief as fight for self-determination does not constitute felony.
“There seems to be a misconception within the Nigerian judiciary, either through ignorance or deliberate omission, that self-determination is tantamount to treason or treasonable felony. (A copy of the United Nations Charter will resolve this issue,) the statement points out.
The statement also pointed out that: “the history of Nigeria is replete with acts bothering on treasonable felony and actual acts of treason itself. Failed coups and attempted coups fall within this category.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the indigenous people of Biafra IPOB worldwide, the director radio and Biafra television is a freedom fighter not those coup plotters that overthrew democratically elected government.
“Example of this, is the coup of 1983 that saw the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as the then Nigeria Head of State. “Actus Reus and Mens Rea. What date was this alleged treason committed? “How can you charge somebody of a serious crime such as treasonable felony without a date?
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“In which planet will a court entertain such a case? Maybe only in Nigeria. What type of charge is that? It’s very obvious that the government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari misunderstood or failed to interpret the provision of the Rights of the Indigenous People.
“To commit treasonable felony, there has to be guns available. The word to note is available not conjecture or imagined but real. “The two licensed Dane guns (double barrel) recovered from the premises of Benjamin Madubugwu is hardly assault weapons or container load of weapons peddled by the federal government propaganda media unit.
“Where and how did this meeting or plan to overthrow the APC government led by major General Muhammadu Buhari take place? Again a critical ingredient in establishing prima facie.
“The agitation for Biafra by IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu predates the coming of the present administration of major General Muhammadu Buhari. “The former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was intelligent enough not to arrest mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“However, the only difference between Goodluck Jonathan’s government and that of Muhammadu Buhari is that the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu by Buhari’s over zealousness is what triggered the resurgence of Biafra case all over the world now.
“More so, had Daura of DSS released mazi Nnamdi Kanu when the court of competent jurisdiction in the first place by Hon. Shuaibu granted him bail, we won’t be here today.
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“Again, when they also failed to obey the court order of Hon. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the federal high court Abuja to release him unconditionally that enraged the civilised world and triggered the unprecedented global attention to the agitation of Biafra we have today.
“President Muhammadu Buhari should obey court to order release mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others detained illegally in Kuje prison Abuja, DSS secret cells and and parts of the country and stop showcasing his incompetency and power drunk mentality to the Nigerians and the entire world”. The statement posits.
The IPOB's statement has, however, triggered reactions and counter reactions from Nigerians both home and abroad.
Jatto Fatimah, an event planner, who lives in Ikoyi Lagos state, said: “What did you expect GEJ to do to him? Were they not GEJ's sympathizers? IPOB, MASSOB, OPC led by Gani Adams, CAN led by pastor Oritsejefor, association of cultist and witches (lol) and Niger delta militant the likes of Asari Dokunbo and Tompolo were all supporting and campaigning in favour GEJ with their several horrifying threatsJatto Fatimah, an event planner, who lives in Ikoyi Lagos state, said: “What did you expect GEJ to do to him? Were they not GEJ's sympathizers? IPOB, MASSOB, OPC led by Gani Adams, CAN led by pastor Oritsejefor, association of cultist and witches (lol) and Niger delta militant the likes of Asari Dokunbo and Tompolo were all supporting and campaigning in favour GEJ with their several horrifying threats".
Chima John, who lives in London, United Kindom said: Say what like, one thing is certain, BIAFRA must be restored Buhari has just realised it, Nnamdi kanu prepared for 17years for this battle and he's winning it."
Murtala Adam, who lives in Kadua, said: Jonathan was also intelligent enough not to grant autonomy to the fictitious "Biafra state" a state that only exists in the pipedreams of deranged psychopaths of Igboland."
Abdul Balarabe, who lives in Sokoto said: Hypocrite, When GEJ was in power there's nothing like nnamdi kanu all igbos are shouting gej till 2019, useless tribe whether ipob or no ipob, pmb till 2023, if igbo like they should dig ground and enter pmb till 2023.
Chinwenwa Muoneke, said: Jonathan is an educated man.... Unlike Buhari who is not... Buhari is just showing his hatred for igbos and Christians in general.... Look at what happened in southern kaduna.... Who has been arrested. Nobody."
Malam Salman Uwais, the Managing director, Tsabta Cleaning services, who lives in Abuja said: "f I may ask, what's intelligence in being loosed and allow things keep going wrongly? Because what I and all right thinking individual know is that among the qualities and responsibilities of a good leader is to deal with whoever wants breach public peace by any means."
"Any leader who fails to do this, is nothing but a ladder being used to reach what cannot be achieved without his support Ahmed Orume : Jonathan was not intelligent but a coward for allowing security nuisance to degenerate to this level. Jonathan ignored KANU just for political reason not national interest."
"I expect Buhari to deal with KANU according to the law to serve as deterrent to such people. There is nowhere in world where somebody will come out and cause security nuisance like this and go free.
"There is no responsible government all over the world that can tolerate the kind of agitations embarked upon by Nnamdi Kanu. Before Kanu started his brand of Biafra agitations, there are others before him whose methods were seemingly peaceful and none of them was arrested and they are still agitating without harassment from the government security agencies,"
Femi Jonathan, who lives in Doha, Qatar said: "Gradually this will generate to an uncontrollable situation, Buhari messed up with his handling of Biafra case, this is a mirage of how weak Mr president is, when it comes to key national issues.
"The worst mistake ever made by this government is arrest and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Everyday Kanu goes to court it makes headlines both local and international, and it is an embarrassment to this regime. Many of his sympathizers believe Kanu is a prisoner of conscience. The Biafra agitation the government is trying to suppress is being brought out to lime light thereby advancing the cause of the agitation.
"That is why Soludo said that Nnmdi Kanu threw a bait and the federal government is trapped in it" .l cannot agree more, rather than ignoring Kanu and his troublesome group PMB wanted to show his raw power. Now with the aid of internet, globalisation and Kanu's rare courage PMB cannot suppress an idea whose time has come. lt was martin Luther King junior who said " Give me freedom or death" and Kanu seem to be in agreement with this maxim."
Source: Legit.ng
