IPOB Members Who Visited Kuje Prison Were Killed By Security Agents– Lawyer Alleges
The legal team of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB,
Nnamdi Kanu, has accused security operatives of harassing and killing
some IPOB members who visited Kanu in Kuje prison.
Recall that Kanu, alongside three others, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, are currently facing trial for an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony and publication of defamatory matter.
Speaking during the resumed trial of Kanu at an Abuja Federal High
Court, one of his defence lawyers, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told the court that
on several occasions members of IPOB and relatives of the defendants
have been harassed and arrested by security officials during visits to
Kuje prison.
According to Ejiofor, he “suspects that those arrested have been
killed by the security operatives,” adding that “nine persons were
arrested after they came to visit, traced to their homes in Abia, and
credible information shows they are dead”.
Corroborating Ejiofor’s allegation, counsel to the third defendant, Barrister Maxwell Opara said the security operatives have harassed him personally despite being a lawyer.
According to Opara, “Many times, the DSS will ask you for your name,
your thumb print, they even asked for my village address, a lawyer, my
lord.
“My lord, this is just a criminal trial, all this unnecessary tension is uncalled for.
“You go to the prison to see your client by 9am and you will not see him until 12 noon.”
Reacting to the allegation, the trial judge, Binta Nyako said: “From day one I told you this is not a drama point, I don’t want drama.
“If you have a personal problem with security operatives, bring it formally and I will make a legal pronouncement on it.
“If they have been misbehaving in the prison when you go to see your
client, you let me know formally and I’ll will contact them legally.
“But you have nothing formally on these allegations, I cannot do it for you because if I do, I have taken a position on the matter.”
Earlier, Ejiofor called on the court to quash all 11 –count charges levelled against Kanu and the three others facing trial.
The lawyer who gave the call while querying the competence of all charges against the suspects, argued that there was nothing in the proof of evidence to support the treason charge against them.
Recall that Kanu, alongside three others, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi, are currently facing trial for an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony and publication of defamatory matter.
According to Ejiofor, he “suspects that those arrested have been
killed by the security operatives,” adding that “nine persons were
arrested after they came to visit, traced to their homes in Abia, and
credible information shows they are dead”.Corroborating Ejiofor’s allegation, counsel to the third defendant, Barrister Maxwell Opara said the security operatives have harassed him personally despite being a lawyer.
“My lord, this is just a criminal trial, all this unnecessary tension is uncalled for.
“You go to the prison to see your client by 9am and you will not see him until 12 noon.”
Reacting to the allegation, the trial judge, Binta Nyako said: “From day one I told you this is not a drama point, I don’t want drama.
“If you have a personal problem with security operatives, bring it formally and I will make a legal pronouncement on it.
“If they have been misbehaving in the prison when you go to see your
client, you let me know formally and I’ll will contact them legally.“But you have nothing formally on these allegations, I cannot do it for you because if I do, I have taken a position on the matter.”
Earlier, Ejiofor called on the court to quash all 11 –count charges levelled against Kanu and the three others facing trial.
The lawyer who gave the call while querying the competence of all charges against the suspects, argued that there was nothing in the proof of evidence to support the treason charge against them.
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