*Delta Pro-Biafra declares support for Uwazuruike led BIM
*Corruption propels Nigerian politicians to pretend loving Nigeria —Uwazuruike
*Rights group condemns police roadblocks, extortion in S’East
The Federal Government has filed a fresh six-count charge of treason and managing the affairs of “an unlawful society” against the embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu was charged before the Federal High Court, Abuja alongside two others, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
MASSOB, IPOB accuse Obiano
Meanwhile, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which were the arrow-heads of the agitation for the release of their detained leader and Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamadi Kanu, have accused Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State of collusion with security operatives to kill and maim their members who were jubilating last week over the bail granted their leader by a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Also, pro-Biafra agitators in Delta State, Tuesday declared support for the leader of the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike describing him as a non-violent messiah.
In the fresh charge, amid a heavy police presence around the court premises, the trio were accused of committing treasonable felony.
When the case came up before Justice Mohammed Tuesday, neither the prosecuting counsel nor the accused persons were present in court.
However, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor announced appearance for the defendants, even as he queried the seriousness of the Federal Government to prosecute the matter.
Ejiofor insisted that the fresh charge was nothing but a ploy by the government to ensure the continued detention of the accused persons, especially Kanu, who was earlier granted bail by the same court.
Nevertheless, Justice Mohammed explained that though the matter was slated in the court’s cause-list for mention, it was obvious that the defence was not notified.
The judge, therefore, adjourned the case, saying a date for the arraignment of the accused persons would be communicated to all the parties.
Fresh charge
In the fresh charge, FG alleged that the three accused persons were the ones managing the affairs of the unlawful society, the IPOB.
The charge read, “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown persons, now at large, in London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and September, 2015, with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order to force the President to change his measures of being the President of the Federation, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as defined in Section 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by doing an act to wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra your preparations for the states in the South-East geo-political zone, South-South geo-political zone, the Igala Community of Kogi State and the Idoma/Igede Community of Benue State to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a Republic of Biafra, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
It will be recalled that Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the same high court, on December 17, ordered the unconditional release of the IPOB leader, Kanu, from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).
Kanu who is also the Director of Radio Biafra and Television, was on October 17, arrested in Lagos by security operatives, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria from his base in the United Kingdom.
Uwazurike-led BIM meet in Asaba
Pro-Biafra agitators from lgbo-speaking axis in Delta State, in a communique, at the end of the enlarged meeting of BIM in Asaba, the state capital, condemned the violent approach to the agitation.
The communiqué by the zonal Leader of the group, Chinedu Amaifeobu, said Uwazuruike-led BIM shines among the numerous groups currently processing the crusade for the autonomous state of Biafra.
They frowned at all accusation levelled against Uwazuruike, saying he was the authentic freedom fighter for the agitation.
MASSOB, IPOB blame Anambra Gov Obiano for Onitsha killings
Also, MASSOB and IPOB in a statement in Enugu Tuesday by MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu said, “We hold Governor Obiano responsible for the killings, arrest, torture, maiming and wounding of non-violent, peaceful IPOB, MASSOB members in Ontisha jubilating over the news of Nnamdi Kanu’s court release order.
“Anambra State in Nigeria where members of MASSOB, IPOB demonstrated, protested or jubilated because of Nnamdi is not the only state in Nigeria. We have not recorded any killings, harassment, massive arrest, clampdown, shootings, torture and unguarded statement, but only in Anambra State.
“During Obiano’s condolence visit to Hausa residents in Onitsha over the torching of Mosque by sponsored hoodlums, Obiano sympathized with them without mentioning or commiserating with non-violent Biafran agitators killed, arrested and tortured by security agents. He tactically supported them to clamp down and disperse non-violent MASSOB, IPOB members.
“This executive order prompted and motivated the Army to kill, maim, arrest our members in Ontisha, including those killed on the day of jubilation.”
Corruption propels Nigerian leaders – Uwazurike
Meanwhile, leader of BIM, Uwazuruike Tuesday blamed corruption as the major factor propelling politicians to pretend that all is well in Nigeria, even when the country was in a state of despair.
He decried the level of corruption in high places in government in the country and regretted that Nigeria was the only country in the world where leadership offered political leaders the best opportunity to steal public funds and go scot-free.
In his goodwill message during the end of 2015 BIM security meeting at Mgbago, Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, Uwazurike said that some politicians were ready to die for one Nigeria only because of the opportunity the country offers them for horrendous stealing, not because Nigeria holds any bright future for their children and children’s children.
Uwazuruike whose message was delivered by BIM’s Deputy National Director for Information, Chris Mocha, expressed concern that Nigeria would continue to have problems because of persistent failure of her leaders to tell masses the truth, stressing that nobody sees himself as a Nigerian.
“Nigerians see themselves as Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo, Kataf, Tivs, Ijaws, among others, and that is why the Yoruba sentiment will always protect their own sons who looted Nigerian treasury; that is also why the Arewa sentiment will do the same for any Hausa/Fulani leader who stashed away public money and that is why the Igbo sentiment viewed a call to probe any of their own kinsmen who stole Nigerian money as a witch-hunt,” Uwazurike said.
He lashed out at leaders for pretending that all was well with Nigeria when indeed the country was burning and emphasized that in Biafraland, there will be no room for corruption.
Rights group condemns 750 police road blocks for extortion
Meanwhile, a civil society group, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Tuesday raised alarm over what it identified as the re-emergence of police roadblocks and high level of extortion from motorists in the South East geo-political zone of the country, accusing the extortionists of using pro-Biafran peaceful protests as a cover.
Intersociety said the return of police roadblock extortion points in June 2015 in Nigeria, as ordered by Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, particularly in the Southeast zone, reached its peak in October 2015 and further made a mockery of the doubtful anti-corruption policy of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
In a statement in Onitsha, Anambra State, the group said findings from its recent zonal investigation in the South East factually disclosed that there were at least 750 police roadblock/extortion points mounted and maintained by IG-led police on federal, state and intercity roads in the zone.
“Of the minimum of 750 police roadblocks/extortion points currently stationed on Southeast roads, there are 200 in Anambra State, followed by Abia State with 200, Imo State with 150 and Enugu and Ebonyi states with 100 each. Of these five states, Anambra and Abia are most illicitly lucrative owing to their commercial environment nature. They are followed by Imo, owing to its strategic link between the two states. Enugu and Ebonyi states are lesser owing to their white-collar or civil service environment nature.”
The statement by its Chairman Emeka Umeagbalasi, said: “Most of the police roadblock/extortion proceeds from Enugu and Ebonyi states come from highway and inter-state road users, particularly users of Enugu-Port Harcourt, Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Nsukka-Oturkpa, Enugu-Abakiliki, Abakiliki-Okigwe and Abakiliki-Ogoja roads as well as inter-State roads within the two states.”
-Vanguard
