Ihedioha said it is laughable that he would be writing to Malami, asking him to continue to illegally hold on to Nnamdi Kanu even after a court of competent jurisdiction had discharged him.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has disowned a letter purportedly written by him to the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, for the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on October 13 discharged Kanu over the Federal Government’s illegal rendition of the IPOB leader from Kenya.
Despite the ruling, Malami insisted that Kanu is not a free man because the court did not acquit him.
A fake letter dated October 14 and addressed to Malami then emerged with a forged Ihedioha letterhead and grammatical errors. The letter advised the Federal Government to ensure Kanu remains in custody “to guarantee peace and security in the south-east towards the 2023 election.”
Part of the letter unedited read, “The implication of your position which I align with, in the interest of 2023 election and security of south east is that other options available to the FG are on the table for prompt action. In my view and humbly so, I suggest a quick move by the federal government to continue his detention, apply for stay of execution of the judgment of the court of appeal and file an appeal at the supreme Court, this will enable his continued detention legal and would reasonably guarantee peace and security in the south east towards the 2023 election.”
The letter further claimed that “within the time of his incarceration there has been relative peace in the south east and the region has embraced a democratic purpose.”
Reacting to the fake letter in a statement on Sunday, Ihedioha said he has maintained “studious silence” in the face of provocations by the Hope Uzodimma administration in Imo, but that “silence is no longer golden.”
Ihedioha said, “It appears that some people are not satisfied with their stolen mandate. They want to drag me out by an orchestrated campaign of lies. And those carrying out this campaign of calumny against my person are doing so at the behest of the same man who was imposed on Imo State.
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“But I understand their dilemma. Having succeeded in their evil plot of removing me from office, they realized that the bigger battle was winning the hearts and minds of the people. And that is proving difficult. That they have failed to endear themselves to the good people of Imo State in the last 34 months is why they are now desperate. And also becoming dangerous. So dangerous that they are now working with political renegades across party lines.”
He continued, “Two of such devious acts were a purported voice of me making threats and a letter, also purportedly written by me to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, advising him not to honour the Appeal Court judgement that discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra so as not to imperil the 2023 elections.
“It is laughable and preposterous, knowing my background and predicament that I will be writing to the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, asking him to continue to illegally hold on to Nnamdi Kanu even after a court of competent jurisdiction had discharged him. What benefits will such a letter confer on me in a matter of such public concern, sensitivity and volatility? How does that make sense?”
Ihedioha noted that “If anyone should be afraid of a free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, it is Hope Uzodimma. The fact that he and fellow characters will concoct such a letter shows the level they are prepared to go in order to hang on to the power they acquired through dubious means. While Nigerians are aware that those who can forge polling results for manufactured votes can forge anything, I have decided not to keep silent again in the face of this criminal defamation of my character because as we inch closer to the 2023 elections, the evil machinations will intensify.”
The former federal lawmaker added that he is not worried because the people of Imo know better. He also called on security agencies to investigate those behind the forgery and bring them to justice.