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Nnamdi Kanu: Don’t Defy UN’s Order – Lawyers To FG

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Three lawyers from Onitsha whose names were given as Chiefs Clifford Okoye, Maurice Efobi, and Sam Chukwukelu have cautioned the Federal Government of Nigeria about the repercussions of defying the most recent United Nations UN demand to free Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, from custody.
Earlier, the UN has asked that Kanu be unconditionally discharged from custody because, in their opinion, Kanu is merely fighting for the independence of his Biafran people and as such, his actions do not yet justify such arbitrary confinement.
The Federal Government has not yet complied with the UN’s request, as evidenced by Kanu’s continued detention under the custody of the Directorate of State Services (DSS). To this moment no decisive affirmative or negative statements to that effect have ever been made by the government.
However, Okoye, Efobi, and Chukwukelu, who discussed the situation with reporters, argued that the Nigerian government shouldn’t treat the UN’s declaration with the same contempt with which it ignores or disobeys court decisions and escapes sanctions.
Okoye, who once served as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA’s Aguata branch in Anambra State, made the following declaration: ‘I want to thank the UN for lending its voice to Nigeria’s internal affairs as a member nation under it and Nigeria should be a country where freedom of speech and expression are observed.’
‘Kanu is entitled to bail because treason is not a capital offense that will attract death by hanging. I recall the attack in Kanu’s home in Afaraukwu Ibeku, Umuahia, Abia State, by the military.’
‘Although that UN declaration is only persuasive and not compulsive, being that global strong voice, has a method of enforcing their actions against any deviant nation under it’, Okoye noted.
Efobi, who was also a former NBA chapter chairman in Idemili, asserted that as Nigeria is a member of the League of Nations, we are required to abide by any decisions made by the UN. Thus, our only alternative is to follow the governing body’s instructions.
‘The court has ruled that Kanu did not jump bail because his house was invaded and he had to flee to save his life. The court has equally ruled that his fundamental rights were infringed upon. So, he should be released unconditionally or else the UN has several sanctions to impose on Nigeria’.
Chukwukelu, who is a former Chairman of the NBA’s Idemili branch, stated:
‘the court which refused to grant Kanu bail recently, should have considered the fact that if Kanu had not escaped alive when the military invaded his house, he would have probably been dead by now and if he had died, he wouldn’t have been alive today to face trial because it is only the living that can face trial and not a dead person.’
Some weeks ago the United nation passed a directive demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Nnamdi Kanu but Io this moment the Buhari- led administration is yet to heed to the instruction, this has promoted lawyers from the South-Eastern part of the country to caution the Federal government against violating the order.

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