JUST IN!!! Biafra: Again, Ohanaeze Demands Kanu’s Release; Lambasts Fr. Mbaka

JUST IN!!! Biafra: Again, Ohanaeze Demands Kanu’s Release; Lambasts Fr. Mbaka 

THE OHANEZE Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to release the detained director of Radio Biafra and leader of Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu to Igbo leaders, assuring that they would make him realize the futility of continuing his pro- Biafra stance.

Chairman of state presidents of Ohaneze in the seven Igbo -speaking states, Dr. Chris Eluemunoh told reporters in Awka that Igbo leaders were equally concerned with the security challenges posed by the activities of the pro-Biafra group, adding that once Kanu was released to Igbo leaders, they would sit him down and discuss with him and make him realize the negative effects of continuing with efforts to actualize the Biafra Republic.

According to Eluemunoh, a lot of discussions on how to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country were going on among Igbo leaders, adding that they believe that Kanu’s issue could be better handled and resolved if he was released to enable Igbo leaders get involved in the matter.

He said: “IPOB and MASSOB (the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra) can operate as pressure groups and not as secessionist groups. Many Igbo people are residing in other parts of Nigeria and there is no way they can abandon their investments to return to the East in the name of Biafra.”
He however commended IPOB for ending their protests that grounded many cities in the East last year, assuring them that they would benefit more if they adopted dialogue in their approach to national issues.
The Ohaneze leader also spoke on the recent statement credited to the Enugu -based Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka in which he was quoted as saying that some people were planning to assassinate President Buhari, describing such a statement as reckless.

He added: “Mbaka should face his evangelism work as a priest rather than creating panic in the country. If he received any revelation, the better thing for him to do is to keep it to himself and pray to God to avert such a thing. The president is the Commander -in -Chief of the country’s armed forces and is capable of securing himself and we see the statement by Mbaka as a distraction.”

He said that Ohaneze supports the president’s anti corruption war, adding that by the way he is going, sanity would soon return to the country’s socio -economic life.

Buhari Shocks Parents of Chibok Girls, Storms out of Meeting; Nigerians Outraged (See Photos)

Buhari Shocks Parents of Chibok Girls, Storms out of Meeting; Nigerians Outraged (See Photos)According to @EiENigeria, President Buhari was very angry when he met with parents of the
missing Chibok girls at the state house today January 14th. He is alleged to have stormed out of the meeting.

See more tweets after the cut

Past Abia governors must render account, says Otti

•Governor-elect to tackle security, unemployment

Abia State Governor-elect Alex Otti yesterday unfolded an anti-corruption agenda, saying that previous governors should render proper accounts and show proofs of prudent spending.

He said the era of graft and theft in public life has ended in the Southeast state, adding that, henceforth, public funds would be judiciously utilised for the common good.

The banker-turned politician reflected on the rot in the state, noting that the collapse of industries has led to youth unemployment and insecurity. Urging the people to exercise more patience, he said his administration will resolve the power crisis and create an enabling atmosphere for industries to thrive so that they can generate employment.

Noting that these are challenging times, he said governance is not a tea party. He said: “This is the time for the common man to be in power. It will not be a tea party. Those who can’t read the balance sheet should not even aspire to be governor. It is a challenging time. We need creative people in government and not those who will always go to Abuja, cap in hand, to look for money.

“I reflected for over eight months before I joined the race. I was shocked by the infrastructural decay, lack of roads and the rot in Abia. We need well trained, well equipped and focused administrators. There is nothing on ground in Abia. Evem Government House does not exist. Youths are unemployed.”

Otti, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) spoke with reporters in Lagos on the recent Court of Appeal Judgment on the Abia governorship election and the preparations for the final litigation in the Supreme Court.

Noting that anti-corruption battle is the order of the day, he said all those who have occupied public office should be made accountable through a thorough investigation of their tenure.

Otti stressed: “Everybody should be accountable. People can be asked to render accounts of their stewardship. It can’t be business as usual. There is no issue of blood tonic again, whereby money is doled out to the elite. I won’t share the collective patrimony of the Abia people to privileged indigenes. Government money that has been filtered away must be returned.”

The governor-elect chided a legal luminary and one-time senator from the state for protesting the verdict of the Court of Appeal on the disputed poll, saying that they have not conducted themselves as statesmen. He alleged that the lawyer’s opinion on the ruling that he has not read was beclouded by partisanship, adding that he was paid to do a dirty job.

Otti also berated the senator for a shortfall in patriotism and decency, stressing that he opted to protest on the streets because he lacked a meaningful job and source of income.

The APGA candidate accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of creating tension in Abia, following its defeat at the poll. He maintained that the poll was rigged in favour of the PDP candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, adding that the tribunal upheld his forged victory because the judges misunderstood the case.

Exuding confidence, the APGA flag bearer said the Supreme Court will give a ruling that will be favourable to the people of Abia. He added: “I believe the Supreme Court will uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal. The major issues are clear. The PDP isolated three local governments to perpetrate electoral fraud. They removed the voter’s register and engineered violence to scare people.

“I was leading with over 60,000 votes in the 14 councils. The results from the three local governments were forged. PDP leaders stormed the collation centre and intimidated the returning officers. They reversed themselves and collated the results they had cancelled.”

Otti said the allegation that he picked his running mate from his native Central Senatorial District, clarifying that the deputy governor elect is from Ohafia, North District. He said his choice was consistent with the spirit of the 1999 Constitution.

He also said the allegation by the PDP that he influenced the composition of the Appeal Court panel was unfounded, stressing that the President of the Court of Appeal set up the panel. He added: “The PDP stole the mandate. That is why they wanted to create controversy over the composition of the panel.”

Reflecting on the electoral battle and the attempts on his life by suspected foes, he said: “There have been attempts on me. In Abuja, I was in a place. God told me to leave. I left. They invaded the place and kill my orderly. But, my Jehova God will always protect me.”

Biafra Will Be Actualized Popular Bishop Prophesizes, Warns Buhari

uhari

Bishop Amaechi Agbo, the general overseer of Bethel House of God Mission, Awkunanaw in Enugu has warned President Muhammadu Buhari that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra would throw Nigeria into crises.

Kanu was arrested by security operatives in October, 2015 and although a court has ordered his release, he is still being detained. His continued detention has sparked protests in different parts of the country with agitators calling for his release and the actualisation of an independent Biafra state.

Vanguard reports that the bishop prophesied at a special service organised for Nigerian leaders that the detention of Kanu would not stop Biafra from coming to reality. He said his detention would only create crises that would speed up the actualisation of Biafra.

He said: “As for Biafra, it will come to pass but not now. Crisis will force Nigeria to separate from Biafra and nobody can stop it at the appropriate time.”

He however commended President Buhari for introducing truth in his administration.
“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has actually introduced truth, honesty and accountability to the management of the affairs of the nation,”

Meanwhile, Amidst speculation that Justice Mahmud Mohammed, the chief justice of Nigeria fallen fell with President Buhari over the continued detention of Knu, a source close to the chief justice has denied the claim.

Kanu’s Case Now Before Hon Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Maitama -Lawyer

The case of pro-Biafran leader Nnamdi Kanu has been assigned to another judge, his lawyer told IBTimes UK. Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofo explained the case will now be presented before Hon Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.

“The case is now slated for arraignment and hearing of our pending application for his bail on 18 January 2016,” he said. “The motion for his bail was today, 13 January, served on the attorney general of the federation. They are yet to file any counter to the application. I and the defence team will now be leading the case.”

Kanu is the director of Radio Biafra and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob). He was arrested by the State Security Service (DSS) in Lagos in October 2015 on conspiracy and terrorism charges that were later dropped.

However, a day after the Abuja High Court ruled he should be released, officials pressed new treasonable felony charges against him and two other defendants, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. And President Muhammadu Buhari stirred outrage after stating Kanu will not be freed in spite of the High Court rulings in favour of his release due to the “atrocities” allegedly committed.

Kanu’s prolonged detention has caused the outrage of his supporters, who alleged he is being tortured. Ejiofo said: “These allegations of torture cannot be established until we are able to see him.” He added that his team wrote a letter to the director general of the DSS asking for permission to see their client.

“They are yet to respond,” he said. “In the unlikely event that we won’t be able to see him before, we are going to see him in court on 18 January.”

Pro-Biafrans have been holding rallies across south-eastern Nigeria calling for Kanu’s unconditional release and the independence of the Biafran territories forcibly annexed to modern-day Nigeria during the British colonisation.

Igbo Man who Just Landed from US Picked up by DSS for Allegedly Criticizing PMB on S. Media (Photos)

Igbo Man who Just Landed from US Picked up by DSS for Allegedly Criticizing PMB on S. Media (Photos)


A Nigerian man, who claims he landed at the Muritala Mohammed Airport few hours ago, says he has been picked up by men of the Department of State Services (DSS)  and taken to their office for questioning. Emeka whose facebook profile says he resides in Rockville, Maryland, alleges that being picked up by the security men is not unconnected to his constant criticism of the current government.

Emeka is the President/CEO of Eculaw and a member of a facebook group called The Due Process Advocate (DPA).

NIGERIA BAR ASSOCIATION BOYCOTT COURTS IN PROTEST TO DISOBEDIENCE TO COURT ORDERS – BBC

NIGERIA BAR ASSOCIATION BOYCOTTS COURT IN PROTEST TO DISOBEDIENCE TO COURT ORDERS – BBC


Lanke Odogiyon says citizens are shot every day by the security forces

Lawyers say they have shut down court proceedings across Nigeria, claiming their boycott is a complete success.
The Nigerian Bar Association says the protest is over the “failure of the government to comply with court orders and the violation of human rights”.

President Lanke Odogiyon said disregard for the rule of law was reminiscent of Nigeria under the military.
He said the only case in the capital, Abuja, was the government failing to get a court order to stop the strike.
The Bar Association says most of its 50,000 membership followed the call on the first day of the two-day boycott and stayed away.

Political battles
The Bar Association said it wanted to demonstrate what would happen if the justice system in Nigeria ceased to function.

The lawyers say national and state governments routinely ignore court orders they do not like.
“The problem of disobedience towards court orders by members of the executive arm at all tiers of government… which was prevalent during the military dictatorship, has reared its ugly head under the present democratic dispensation,” Mr Odogiyon said.

He said the problem was not just limited to disobeying court orders.
Every day, he said, defenceless citizens were shot dead by members of the security services and law enforcement agencies.

The government disputes all this and has called on Nigerian lawyers to ignore the boycott.
The BBC’s Alex Last in Lagos says the protest is a public display of dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in Nigeria.
He says a further concern is that political battles in Nigeria are often fought in court, and with general elections due in 2007, lawyers want to know that judgements will be obeyed.