By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Former Secretary to Imo State Government, Hon Uche Onyeagucha, on Thursday said he will not hesitate to accept the offer of legal adviser to the proscribed Igbo self-determination agitators, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), if approached.
IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is detained by the Federal government, is a separatist group protesting against the marginalisation of Ndigbo in Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday which was made available to TheNiche, Onyeagucha said his attention had been drawn to a story in the media captioned “Uche Onyeagucha appointed as IPOB/ESN Legal Adviser.”
The human rights lawyer said while those pushing the narrative may have intended it as a blackmail, he will, indeed, consider it an honour if approached to provide such services to the group.
The five-paragraph statement reads:
“My attention has been drawn to the story – “Uche Onyeagucha appointed as IPOB/ESN Legal Adviser” – circulating in the media. The authors of the statement must have considered the publication a blackmail.
“They are wrong and uninformed. In my legal carrier, I have offered legal services to MASSOB, MOSSOP and Niger Delta militants.
“As a human rights and pro-democracy lawyer, I reserve the right to give legal services to whomsoever I care, IPOB/ESN inclusive.
“As at today, IPOB/ESN have not requested my legal services. I state without equivocation; if IPOB/ESN dare to request my legal services, I will consider it an honour and accept the offer.
“I am sure that IPOB/ESN, ala Igbo and Nigeria will be better for it.”