[FILES] Deserted Coal Camp, Enugu State, during the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) recently.

Tells FG to arraign Kanu on Oct 21 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has threatened a one-month total lockdown in the South East, should the Federal Government fail to produce its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in court on October 21 to continue his trial.

It alleged yesterday that the government had perfected plans not to bring Kanu to court, but planned to keep him perpetually behind bars without trial to deaden the Biafra struggle.

The Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, stated: “If the Federal Government refuses to bring him to court in his next date on October 21, 2021, the entire Biafra land will be on total lockdown for one month. The Federal Government will know that they cannot take us for granted anymore.

“Our peaceful disposition as a people should not be misconstrued as weakness. Nigeria cannot incarcerate our leader illegally and expect things to be normal again. If by October 21, Kanu is not brought to court, Nigeria will know that Kanu commands the unflinching loyalty of over 60 million Biafrans at home and in the Diaspora.”

According to IPOB, keeping its leader out of circulation puts his health in jeopardy.

“The Fulani-controlled Nigeria government must tell us why it will choose to disobey court orders and expect citizens to watch like conquered slaves. They are busy granting amnesty to terrorists and bandits killing their soldiers and citizens, but keeping peaceful agitators in perpetual detention,” Powerful said.

Meanwhile, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), yesterday, filed an application before an Abia State High Court asking the court to intervene in Kanu’s fundamental rights suit pending before it.

The Chairman of ADF Media and Publicity Bureau, Abia Onyike, stated: “If the leave is granted, ADF will be enabled to file an amicus submission to address the court on points of law in support of what Kanu had filed.”

Kanu had, through his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, brought a suit before the high court of Abia for enforcement of his fundamental rights. Among other reliefs, the suit seeks Kanu’s release from detention and payment of damages.

Onyike added: “In this latest development, the ADF, which is led by Professor Uzodinma Nwala, seeks to address the court on some salient issues critical to the case. The application, which was brought by ADF’s counsel, Max Ozoaka, is yet to be assigned for hearing.

“The thrust of the amicus application is that in the peculiar circumstances of the substantive application for the enforcement of Kanu’s fundamental rights, there are recondite points of law that should be brought to the attention of the honourable court, which will be helpful in determining the substantive application.”