By Ayo Yusuf
Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has vowed that he will never beg the Federal Government to release him.
This was contained in a letter signed by Kanu’s lead counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and released to the media on Monday August 28, 2023.
“According to Kanu, begging for his freedom at this point will be an insult to the memory of the late Pa Mbazulike Amechi, who despite his age and ill health, repeatedly travelled from the Southeast to Abuja, pleading with the Federal Government to honour his dying wish, which was treated with the greatest disdain and was also not honoured,” he said.
In the letter, Mr. Ozekhome said, “We visited our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, today, the 28th day of August 2023, to brief him on the various intervening actions taken by the legal team ably led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to address pertinent concerns affecting his welfare and failure of the SSS to avail him of his medical records.”
The senior advocate expressed concern over the deplorable condition of Kanu’s detention facility in the custody of the Department of State Services and disclosed that an application has been made to the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory to appoint a Magistrate to inspect the detention centre.
“To this end, an application has been made to the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory by our erudite Lead Counsel – Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, to appoint a Magistrate that will visit and inspect the SSS facility/cell where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been held in solitary confinement since June 2021 till date, in pursuance to the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”
Ozekhome said the SSS’ refusal to avail Kanu of his medical records, as directed by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, in the judgment delivered on July 20 2023, led him to initiate a contempt proceeding against the State Security Service and its Director General for gross violation of court orders.
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu used the opportunity offered by the visit to extend his heartfelt gratitude to all people of good conscience and groups calling for his release. He however, observed that many people may not have understood the peculiarity of his case, but proceeded to urge us to clarify that he has been effectively and validly discharged by the judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered October 13 2022, which said judgment also prohibited his further trial and detention.
“Therefore, there is no charge pending against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before any court as of today the peculiarity of his case, but proceeded to urge us to clarify that he has been effectively and validly discharged by the judgment of the Court of Appeal, delivered October 13 2022, which said judgment also prohibited his further trial and detention. Therefore, there is no charge pending against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before any court as of today.”
Ozekhome said further that
“Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is of the firm view that he does not need to beg the FGN to release him. The Court of Appeal has already made a pronouncement in that regard and that pronouncement has remained sacrosanct till date.
“Therefore, the call every person of goodwill should make in the circumstance of his continued illegal detention, is for the Supreme Court to set down a date for the expeditious hearing of the appeal filed by the Federal Government, as provided for in the Criminal Appeals Practice Directions of the Supreme Court.”
