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The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected the killings in the the South-East region, seeking negotiation with the Federal Government for an out-of-court settlement following the treasonable trial against him.
Recall that the IPOB leader has been in detention since 2021 following his re-arrest in Kenya and repatriation to Nigeria.
He made this appeal when he appeared before the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja for the continuation of his trial.
A viral video clip on Wednesday captured him denouncing killings in the South-East fuelled by IPOB’s agitation for separation of the Igbo from Nigeria.
Kanu said in the video, “I condemn any manner of killing. Every manner of killing, I condemn in its entirety.
“I want people to understand that IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle and we maintain that up till this very day. Some of these soldiers, we are told, are also our people. And the families are now in mourning. All the making of young widows is condemned in its entirety. I don’t want it, I don’t want anybody to die.
“We are fighting for freedom, then how can we fight death at the same time? It’s not possible; we want people to be free. That’s all we’re fighting for, nothing more.
“We’ve suffered a lot in Africa, I don’t know if you know that. Africans have suffered – from slavery in (Saudi) Arabia, to slavery in Europe, to slavery in America. So, I think we should focus our time and devote it towards making sure that this continent stands up to what God promised is going to be.”
At the proper court proceedings, Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, informed Justice Binta Nyako and the prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), that “the defence wants the case settled out of court.”
He added that this situation had led the legal team to resolve to initiate contempt proceedings against the Director General of the Department of State Service (SSS) for refusing to obey the court’s order which had directed the DSS to grant Kanu an unbugged “safe room” space for meeting with his lawyers.
Ejimakor asked the court to on its own, invoke Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, which he stated, provides for “reconciliation” and facilitation of amicable settlement in criminal or civil matters.
He said he had previously discussed the proposition with the prosecution counsel who had told him the proper time for such an issue had not come.
The Federal Government’s lawyer, Awomolo, however, told the court that it was not in his place to seek an out-of-court settlement of the matter.
Awomolo told Kanu’s team to “approach the Attorney General of the Federation on such issues as the power to grant such resides with him.”
“I told him to go to the Attorney-General of the Federation, who has the power. If he is interested in negotiating he should go there, his office is just here,” Awomolo said.
The judge, however, dismissed Kanu’s fresh application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the charges preferred against him.
She adjourned the matter until September 24 for hearing.
