IPOB, instead, urges “Biafrans” to storm the High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Sunday emphasized that there will be no sit-at-home on Wednesday, January 19, when a High Court in Abia State will deliver judgment on the suit by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Kanu had challenged what he called a violation of his human rights and the 2017 military invasion of his family home.
The suit, filed by Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, also seeks the court to declare as illegal, the action of the Nigerian government in the ‘abduction’ of the IPOB leader in Kenya and his rendition to Nigeria to be allegedly tortured and dehumanized.
A statement by Ejimakor last week, obtained by TheNiche, titled, “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Fundamental Rights suit fixed for judgment on 19th January, 2022,” recalled that the suit was heard and concluded on the merits on December 10, 2021 before Justice Benson Anya of the High Court of Abia State in Umuahia.
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But, IPOB members had quickly declared the day a sit-at-home despite repeated claims by the leadership that the mandate is illegal.
In a broadcast on Radio Biafra 102.1FM on Saturday, January 15 by Mazi Chika Edoziem of the IPOB Directorate of State, the IPOB leadership said rather than staying at home, “Biafrans” should mobilise and storm the Court in Umuahia in their numbers.
“On the 19th of January 2022, Biafrans shall show great presence at Umuahia High Court,” Edoziem said.
In another message also on Sunday, Ejimakor emphasized that there will be no sit-at-home on Wednesday.
Speaking exclusively with TheNiche on Sunday, Ejimakor said that he will personally be in court and was optimistic that his client will get justice.
An IPOB source that spoke anonymously with TheNiche because he was not authorised to speak to the press said the group’s leadership is worried that the sit-at-home mandate if not nipped in the bud may affect the court proceedings negatively.
“They would rather see a situation where everyone is in court on Wednesday than sit at home.
“But I doubt if it is not yet late already. People are scared to come out. IPOB is gradually losing the narrative.
“Nobody seems to know who is incharge these days. That is why people still enforce the sit-at-home mandate despite the repeated claim that it has been rescinded by IPOB leadership,” our source said.