—Being Starved In Custody
Lead Lawyer to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Ifeanyi Ejiofor has disclosed that the legal team is working on a strategy for his unconventional release.
This is as he raised the alarm that Nnamdi Kanu is being starved by the Directorate State Security Services (DSS) because his lawyers complained to the court about the inhuman conditions under which Kanu is detained in flagrant disregard to the orders of the court.
He demanded the immediate compliance with the orders made by the Court on December 2nd,2023.
According to Ejiofor “the routine visit to our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was conducted today, 6th December 2021 and in his usual practice, he extended his compliments to his millions of supporters. He remains profoundly grateful for the overwhelming support and show of solidarity thus far.
“However, we observed with dismay, and indeed very unfortunate and worrisome that notwithstanding the far reaching orders made by Her Lordship in the open Court on the 2nd of December 2021, the detaining authority being the DSS have in their usual style, flouted and/or ignored the said court orders” he added.
Ejiofor pointed out that “We were informed by our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu that none of the pronouncement made by the Court on the 2nd of December 2021 has been obeyed by the DSS. They have unrepentantly continued to treat the Orders of the Court with greatest disdain.
“Our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu further informed us that he had not eaten anything since yesterday. Apparently, he is being punished because we dared to complain to the court about the condition under which he is being held in custody. But, very unfortunately, this should be the height of their reckless affront to the orders of court.
He noted that “at the time Her Lordship made these far reaching orders in open court, I did not mince words in informing the court that the operatives of the DSS will flout these orders, pursuant to which the court specifically told me to come back to her with these facts if her order is flouted. Interestingly, we will be approaching the court tomorrow with this terrifying development, which is totally unacceptable, grossly condemnable, and cannot be tolerated.
“The facts must be placed in their proper perspectives: Our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted of committing any crime, he is still presumed innocent of every unfounded and frivolous allegations against him, and as such, the DSS has no power whatsoever to whittle down the enjoyment of any of his rights clearly protected under Chapter 4 of the Constitution” he added.
Ejiofor further stated that “the detaining authority (DSS) is an Agency clearly established by instrumentality of the laws and should operate within the confines of the same laws establishing them, and should not be seen as a lawless entity.
“We hereby, demand without further ado, for the immediate compliance with all the orders of the Court clearly made on the 2nd of December 2021 and further attempt to flout these orders must be faced with strict sanctions by the Court.
Ejiofor said that “we respectfully wish to assure our Client’s teeming supporters that we cannot leave anything to chance towards ensuring that our Client is sufficiently protected and his rights are upheld. The DSS must and shall certainly operate within the confines of the laws. They have no option on this.
“Be assured that we are not resting on oars whatsoever, to ensure that our Client is unconditionally released. This strategy isn’t being discussed here, but it will happen soon” he added.
