Why We Kept Silent In N-Assembly On Nnamdi Kanu’s Case.- Hon. Uko Nkole

Hon. Uko Nkole

A House of Reps member representing Arochukwu/ Ohafia federal constituency, Hon. Uko Nkole, has revealed why National Assembly members of Igbo extraction are silent over the continued detention of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Security, DSS, in October 2015.



Responding to criticisms that have come the way of South-east National Assembly members for saying or doing nothing about the Radio Biafra founder’s ordeal, Nkole said he and his colleagues decided to keep sealed lips over Kanu’s affairs “because the matter is already in court.”

The federal government has preferred treason charges against the IPOB leader.
The Reps member, who gave the explanations while fielding questions from newsmen on Friday after inaugurating his constituency office in Ohafia, said there was nothing they could do until the court had decided on the matter.

Nnamdi Kanu IPOB leader

Speaking on the destruction of crops and farmlands in some parts of the South-east states by Fulani herdsmen and their cattle, he condemned the action and called on the security agencies to rise up to the challenge before it degenerates into ethnic clashes.
He decried the reported declaration of some part of Ohafia farmland as “Republic of Fulani” by some Fulani herdsmen who also hoisted their flag in the area, and commended the security agents for dismantling the said flag.
Nkole maintained that while there is freedom of movement in the country, it would be wrong for herdsmen to hide under the guise of such freedom to destroy crops and farmlands of their host communities.

I’m a British citizen, ask Buhari to release me; Nnamdi Kanu tells UK On March 31, 201612:23 amIn NewsComments 807 0 2 0 By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA—The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has urged the British Government to intervene in his case by asking President Muhammadu Buhari to release him from prison. Kanu who is facing treason charge alongside two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, approached the British government through his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor. Kanu, in a letter dated March 24 and addressed to the British High Commissioner in Abuja, described himself as a victim of travesty of justice and gross human rights violation. He insisted that the President Buhari-led administration has violently abused his fundamental human rights through his prolonged detention in prison custody. Even though Kanu said he was ready to answer to the charge against him, he however expressed doubt in the ability of the Nigerian government to accord him fair trial, saying he has so far been subjected to immense persecution. British citizen Stressing that he is a British citizen, Kanu told the UK government that he was wrongly arrested and put in detention. “It is repeating the obvious to state that our client is a full British citizen, by virtue of which position he is entitled to all Rights, Privileges and Protection, guaranteed under the British Laws and conventions. Nnamdi kanu Nnamdi kanu “We are therefore constrained in the circumstance, to formally notify the British Government via this medium, of our well informed reservations, and apprehension, that our client is undergoing persecution in the charge above referred, and deliberate design by the persecutors to frustrate every effort of the Defense team aimed at giving our client a fair trial”. Kanu, through his lawyer, contended that his detention from October 14, 2015 till January 20, 2016, without any lawful order of court, was not only unlawful, but was in flagrant disobedience of orders of courts of competent jurisdiction which he said directed his unconditional release and discharge. Dual citizenship “It is the position of our Law, that dual citizenship is a constitutional right of the citizens of Nigeria, clearly provided for under section 28 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011. Dual citizenship is not a crime under our Law. Reservations on President’s comment “Our reservations on the President’s comment was underpinned by the findings made in the ruling delivered on February 29, 2016, by Hon. Justice John Tsoho, wherein our client and the two other defendants were denied bail. “Recalled that on December 29, 2015, during the Presidential Media Chat, the President told the whole world that Nnamdi Kanu cannot be granted bail, alleging that he came into the country without a valid travelling passport. “This pronouncement was roundly condemned by both local and international commentators. His pronouncement was viewed as a clear usurpation of the functions and powers of the judiciary. “Though very regrettable and extremely unfortunate, Nnamdi Kanu was refused bail on January 29, 2016. In refusing him and other defendants bail, the court also cited the facts of his possession of dual passports as a flight risk, and as such held that he cannot be granted bail.” Kanu maintained that Justice Tsoho denied him bail “in line with the pronouncement of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his media chat telecasted live on December 29, 2015.”

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/im-victim-travesty-justice-nnamdi-kanu-tells-uk/