Barrister Magaji Labaran, the lead counsel to the Nigerian government in Nnamdi Kanu’s case, has said that the IPOB’s leader denied being a member of the secessionist group in court on Wednesday, January 19.
Nnamdi Kanu who is facing terrorism charges had pleaded not guilty to the new amended 15-count charge preferred against him by the Nigerian government.
Addressing newsmen after court proceedings, Labaran alleged that they were ambushed by a bail application by Kanu’s lawyers. He added that one interesting fact in the case is that Kanu is accused of being an Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) member, but he vehemently denied being a member of the group.
The lawyer appealed to Nigerians to see them through as they prove the charges against Kanu.
However, Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor has denied the statement credited to Barrister Labaran that Nnamdi Kanu denied being an IPOB member.
In a statement published on his Facebook page on Thursday, Ejiofor said the comment is false.
In his words, “Our attention has been drawn to the deliberate misrepresentation/falsehood and wrong narratives being perpetuated by some mischief makers, and which is unfortunately gradually gaining prominence on social media platforms and print media. Hence, it is pertinent that we provide clarification and clear the doubt.
“S.M. Labaran Esq., who stood in yesterday for the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation is a colleague I hold in high esteem, but I shall resist every mischievous ploy being adopted to misinform the unsuspecting members of the public who were not privy to the details of the proceedings in court yesterday, with a wrong and mischievous interpretation of the purport of the Plea taken by our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“For the records, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never denied being the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) while taking his plea, but only STOUTLY DENIED THE FACT THAT IPOB IS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION AND THAT BEING ITS LEADER IS AN OFFENCE, which position is well informed.
“Members of the Public should be well guided that the status of the black market order proscribing IPOB is a subject of Appeal in Appeal Number: APPEAL NO. CA/A/214/2018, pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
“That being said, it is only laughable that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in their desperate but futile attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it, brought a charge bordering on the status of IPOB, a subject matter of a competent Appeal, where issues has been joined with the same FGN.
“Therefore, be properly guided UmuChineke, because we have sufficiently addressed the emptiness of that count and entire charge in our compelling Submissions before the Court, now adjourned to be heard on the 16th day of February, 2022.
“We do not wish to dwell further on this subject, but be rightly informed that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never denied being the Leader of IPOB while taking his Plea yesterday.”
