BREAKING! Tension as IPOB, MASSOB Order Fulani Herdsmen to Vacate South South and South East

Meantime, a palpable trepidation is rife in the South-East geopolitical zone following yesterday’s warning from the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, directing all Fulani herdsmen engaged in pastoral activities to retreat to the northern part of the country as their safety can longer be guaranteed.

The pro-Biafra groups said it has become imperative for the Fulani herdsmen to leave the region as it can no longer, ”tolerate the systematic killing of our people and invasion of our land in the name of cattle grazing.”
In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Enugu yesterday, MASSOB Leader, Uchenna Madu, revealed that it has mobilized its allies to ensure that its directive was heeded.

According to Madu, ”we can no longer tolerate the systematic killing of our people and invasion of our land in the name of cattle grazing. Seventy per cent of Fulani herdsmen in the eastern region are Northern-trained secret army assigned for devastation and secret killing of Biafrans.

“MASSOB in collaboration with IPOB and other affiliates have vowed to protect Biafra land with enthusiastic spirit and motivation  from foreign invaders in any disguise. As we have resolved to protect Biafra land, we warn Arewa secret army in disguise as Fulani herdsmen to concentrate on grazing with their cows as any further attack on our people shall be squarely returned.”

On the actualization of Biafra, MASSOB leader described President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on the futility of Biafra secession from Nigeria as the,”ranting of a frustrated man who has lost major focus on international/diplomatic politics.

“The level of Biafra actualization has gone beyond Buhari’s imagination and comprehension. As long as Ndigbo and easterners in general live, Biafra can never be subdued by Nigeria. We advise the international community to ignore Buhari’s diplomatic propaganda against Biafra.

“We will continue to toe the line of non-violence in our pursuit for Biafra and will not lower our guard to continue to press for the release Nnamdi Kanu,Ben Onwuka and other pro-Biafra detainees in prisons scattered all over the country”.

Biafra: IPOB and Buhari in War of Words

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday welcomed the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari to the effect that Nigeria would not tolerate Biafra, pointing out that Biafra would also not tolerate Nigeria.

Spokespersons of IPOB, Emma Mmezu and Dr Clifford Iroanya who spoke for the organisation in a statement entitled “Response to Ohanaeze and Buhari’s disparaging remarks about Biafra on Al Jazeera,” said: “We wish to reiterate for record purposes that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not mandated Ohanaeze or any  youth group to negotiate for his release.

“The agitation for Biafra is a long and arduous process and the entire IPOB family all over the world understands this approach as espoused by our detained leader.

“We have not come to merely agitate, we have come to restore or die in the process. Some people think we are joking or can be easily dissuaded from this divine path that God-Chukwu Okike Abhiama has mandated us to follow.

“Any negotiation on Biafra must be led by Nnamdi Kanu and nobody else. If roads, bridges and a few junior staff at Aso Rock are our problems as Biafrans, then IPOB worldwide can fund such infrastructural development alone and very soon, we shall do it. Our quest is Biafra- nothing more, nothing less.

“On the issue of Buhari’s Aljazeera interview on Biafra, we welcome his comments because Biafra would not also tolerate Nigeria. Lord Lugard created Nigeria not Chukwu Okike Abhiama, God Almighty. So, like USSR, it will collapse. We, the IPOB Worldwide have decided not to go back on the quest for restoration of Biafra. Nigeria is not bigger than USSR just as Buhari is not stronger than Michael Gobachev. Buhari can kill Biafrans as he did during the 1967 to 1970 civil war, but this time, it will not be the same.”

Kalu Rejects Declaration of Ohuabunwa Winner after Returning Officer Declared Election Inconclusive

The former Governor of Abia State and PPA candidate in the last saturday’s Abia North Senatorial rerun election, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has reaction rejected INEC’s declaration of PDP’s candidate Mao Ohuabunwa as winner by INEC  5 hours after declaring the election inconclusive. In a text message to Igbere TV Orji Uzor Kalu said:

“After declaring an election inconclusive only to turn around after everybody has gone to declare the loser (PDP) winner is absurd.  I thank you all for all your prayers, support and love. It is not over, I will continue to fight until Abia North LOST GLORY is restored. Keep HOPE ALIVE!”

A replay of the April 2015 governorship result collation in which the state returning officer reversed himself after cancelling the result of three local government areas played out again yesterday in Abia State. The returning officer for the Abia North senatorial rerun election, Dr. Nduka Nwankwo-Ojike, reversed his earlier declaration of the election as inconclusive by declaring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mao Ohuabunwa, winner of the election.

Nwankwo-Ojike, the head of Department of Engineering, Michael Okpara University, Umudike, had declared the Saturday senatorial rerun inconclusive at 7a.m. on Sunday after a night long collation based on the fact that the margin of lead of 195 votes is far lower than the number that did not vote put at 62,000. He said it will not be fair to disenfranchise 62,000 voters.

Other reasons he gave for declaring the rerun inconclusive was the report of ballot box and voting materials snatching, failure of card reader and absence of result sheet in some of the polling units. He had declared from the result collated that the PDP candidate, Ohuabunwa scored 26,009 votes while the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) candidate, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu followed closely with 25,814 votes.

After declaring the rerun inconclusive, the returning officer was ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state to go back and declare the PDP candidate winner of the rerun. Six hours later, by 12p.m., Nwankwo-Ojike returned to Ohafia Local Government headquarters and did as he was ordered. Reacting to the reversal, the PPA agent, Chief Madukwe Ukaegbu, said he was shocked to hear that the rerun “that was declared inconclusive by 7a.m. has been reversed by 12p.m.”
He said: “Abia has turned to a place where elections are rigged and manipulated against the wishes of the people.” Ukaegbu said it was sad and disappointing that this kind of thing could happen with the active connivance of INEC.

The PPA agent said that the party had taken in good fate the declaration of the returning officer for those places with problem be done the next day. But the PDP agent, Udo Uduma, said that there is no provision for inconclusiveness in a rerun, saying that whatever the margin of lead was enough to declare the winner. Effort to get the INEC head of voter education, Mr. Edwin Enabor, to comment on the matter proved abortive as he did not pick his calls.

BREAKING! Tension as DSS, Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyers, Family Members Clash In Court

The trial of a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, took a dramatic turn Monday, when counsel in the case told Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court that their lives were under threat.

The prosecuting team also accused Mr. Kanu’s lawyers and family members of constituting threats to its witnesses.

Mr. Kanu and two others – Benjamin Maudubugwu and David Nwawuisi – were brought before the court for alleged treason, for maintaining unlawful society, among others charges.

At the commencement of hearing on Monday, prosecution counsel, Mohammed Diri, informed the court that Mr. Kanu’s lawyer had altercation with members of the State Security Service while trying to enter the courtroom, Monday morning.

Reading from a short note he claimed was written by a staff of the SSS, Mr. Diri said the defence counsel and members of Mr. Kanu’s family were constituting threats to the lives of witnesses.

He asked the court to adjourn the matter till such a time when the witnesses would be granted the needed protection to help them confidently testify in court.

But the lead counsel to Mr. Kanu, Chux Muoma, asked the court to grant permission to Ifeayin Ejiofor, the counsel who had altercation with the SSS, to explain what happened.

When Mr. Ejiofor was given permission to speak, he accused SSS operatives of trying to kill him.
According to Mr. Ejiofor, he had gone to intervene in a dispute between members of Mr. Kanu’s family and staff of the SSS.

He said at the scene of the disagreement, he was told that the SSS staff were blocking Mr. Kanu’s family members from entering the court.

Mr. Ejiofor said the SSS operatives at the scene insisted that they would only allow three additional family members of Mr. Kanu to join those already in the court premises.

He said when he (Mr. Ejiofor) tried to explain to them that there was an order of court permitting members of the public to witness the proceedings, Mr. Ejiofor said a staff of the SSS threatened to kill him.
He therefore prayed the court to take note of the threat.

“My lord I will like you to take note of this threat to my life, because I don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” Mr. Ejiofor said.

The trial judge, Mr. Tsoho, who noted that events had taken a different turn from what was expected, added that if the parties to the matter felt threatened, the case might as well be handed over to the celestial order to resolve.

He asked the parties to decide whether or not they wanted the trial to continue.

The matter was thereafter stepped down for a 30-minute break to enable parties determine the way forward for the matter.

The court had adjourned the matter on February 19, for today March 7.

JUST IN! Court may Discharge Kanu as DSS Fails to Provide any of it’s 8 Witnesses

JUST IN! Court may Discharge Kanu as DSS Fails to Provide any of it’s 8 Witnesses






Following the inability of the federal government to produce any of the eight witnesses scheduled to testify before the court, the defendants, through their lawyer, Chief Chuks Muoma, SAN, applied to be discharged and acquitted of the charge against them.
They predicated their application on the provision of section 351(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Earlier, the DPP informed the court that the witnesses said they would not appear to testify against the defendants unless the are allowed to wear masks or their identities shielded from both lawyers and people observing the proceeding. ‘My lord this is because they are already receiving threats from associates of the defendants that they will be dealt with. The witnesses said they love their lives and requested that their identities be shielded from people who are coming to witness the proceeding’, Diri added.

He said DSS operatives also billed to testify in the matter, made similar request on the basis that they are investigating terrorism cases and would not want their identities exposed. Justice Tsoho had on February 19, refused an application by the federal government which sought leave to mask the witnesses.
The application was vehemently opposed by counsel to the defendants who urged the court not to allow ‘masquerades’ to testify before it. Meanwhile, the parties are still exchanging arguments on the application for the charge to be quashed and the defendants discharged and acquitted.

Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, ‎has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom. The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. FG alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as ‘an unlawful society’.

Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic ofBiafra”, from Nigeria. The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje prison ‎in Abuja.‎‎

Court grants DSS permission to protect witnesses

Kanu said his team will challenge today’s court ruling which permitted the DSS to make use of masked witnesses. A Federal High Court has granted an application by the Department of State Services (DSS) to protect its witnesses. The judge over the matter, John Tsoho, in his ruling said that the DSS application is not different from his previous order. He dismissed the defense counsel’s argument that Section 351 subsection 1 of the Administrative Criminal Justice Act that complainant must be ascertained affects this matter before the court. He said the complainant in this matter is the Attorney General of the Federation, who is the chief legal prosecutor of the state represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mohammed Dir and his team. Tsoho said that he upholds the argument that Section 351 subsection 1 of the Administrative Criminal Justice Act. He said the previous court order is not different from the application made by the DSS.

While discharging the prayer of the defendants to discharge the charges before the court and restrict the complainant to re-arresting the defendants, Tsoho said his order of February 19, included that the witnesses are shielded in a manner that they can be seen by the counsels. He added that the witnesses are also allowed to use private paths within the court premises that are different from the public paths. He said the DSS application does not amount to opening an already settled matter. The judge further explained that the witnesses will not be masked but will be screened in such a way that the counsels will be able to see the witnesses. Tsoho ruled that the matter be adjourned to Wednesday, March 9, as screens not facial masks will be used to protect the witnesses during examination and cross-examination. The prosecution counsel, Mohammed Diri also told the court that the DSS intends to examine all its witnesses on the same day.
He had earlier urged the court to vary its order that the identities of its witnesses be protected from the public. Diri told the court that the inability of the DSS to bring the witnesses for the commencement of trial was because the witnesses were scared of their lives. Meanwhile, Nnamdi Kanu has said that he would challenge the order of the Federal High Court Abuja to allowed witnesses to be protected in his trial. Speaking after a court ruling in Abuja, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of the  counsels to Kanu said his team will challenge today’s court ruling. “We are going to challenge the decision of the court in a higher court,” Ejiofor said. Kanu was arrested on October 14, 2015, by operatives of the DSS upon his arrival into Nigeria from the United Kingdom. He is facing charges bordering on felony, illegal possession of firearms and assisting in the management of an unlawful society alongside two others.

Biafra: DSS ‘Uncovers’ Plot to Abduct Kanu, Others in Court

BREAKING NEWS!!! Biafra: DSS ‘Uncovers’ Plot to Abduct Kanu, Others in Court

The Department of State Service, DSS, on Monday, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that it has uncovered plot by some pro-Biafra agitators, to invade the court and forcefully free the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

The security agency made the allegation on a day the federal government was to open its case against Kanu who is facing a six-count treason charge alongside two other pro-Biafra supporters, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.

Nnamdi kanu The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Mohammed Diri, told trial Justice John Tsoho that the DSS has already commenced investigation on the planned invasion. Meantime, following the inability of the federal government to produce any of the eight witnesses scheduled to testify before the court, the defendants, through their lawyer, Chief Chuks Muoma, SAN, applied to be discharged and acquitted of the charge against them.
They predicated their application on the provision of section 351(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Earlier, the DPP informed the court that the witnesses said they would not appear to testify against the defendants unless the are allowed to wear masks or their identities shielded from both lawyers and people observing the proceeding. ‘My lord this is because they are already receiving threats from associates of the defendants that they will be dealt with. The witnesses said they love their lives and requested that their identities be shielded from people who are coming to witness the proceeding’, Diri added.

He said DSS operatives also billed to testify in the matter, made similar request on the basis that they are investigating terrorism cases and would not want their identities exposed. Justice Tsoho had on February 19, refused an application by the federal government which sought leave to mask the witnesses.
The application was vehemently opposed by counsel to the defendants who urged the court not to allow ‘masquerades’ to testify before it. Meanwhile, the parties are still exchanging arguments on the application for the charge to be quashed and the defendants discharged and acquitted.

Kanu who was hitherto the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, ‎has been in detention since October 14, 2015, when he was arrested by security operatives upon his arrival to Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom. The defendants were alleged to have committed treasonable felony, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. FG alleged that they were the ones managing the affairs of the IPOB which it described as ‘an unlawful society’.
Specifically, Kanu was alleged to have illegally smuggled radio transmitters into Nigeria, which he used to disseminate “hate broadcasts”, encouraging the “secession of the Republic ofBiafra”, from Nigeria. The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charge on January 20, even as the court ordered their remand at Kuje prison ‎in Abuja.‎‎