Chief Maxwell Opara Ph. D
The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the life sentence recently pronounced on him by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Nnamdi Kanu voiced his anger over the weekend during a visit by his younger brother, his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and a top-notch lawyer, Dr Maxwell Opara to the Medium Correctional Centre, Sokoto State.
Citizens Compass reported that a Nigerian Judge, James Omotosho, pronounced the life sentence on the IPOB leader.
On his social media handles, Emmanuel disclosed the outcome of the meeting with his older brother with a title,
“From Sokoto Prison: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Declares Conviction “Without Legal Basis,” Urges Judiciary to Examine Flaws”
He said, “I, Prince Emmanuel Kanu and Dr Maxwell Opara have had a meeting with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, at the Sokoto medium security prison. He has instructed me to inform the public that his conviction was without legal basis, as no individual can be convicted under a repealed law. His final written address which anchored on fair hearing was also denied He emphasized that the evidence relied upon by the court was not included in the charge sheet or presented as evidence against him.
“Additionally, the court’s reliance on struck-out charges from Justice Binta Nyako was a significant issue. Upon reviewing the judgment, he identified numerous errors that undermined the validity of his trial.
“He urged well-meaning Nigerian justices, magistrates, and lawyers to carefully examine the judgment and uphold the laws of the land and the Nigerian Constitution. He questioned the disparity between the favorable rulings in Umuahia High Court, Enugu, Appeal Court, United Nations, and Supreme Court, which stated that the laws under which he was charged are repealed and must be amended, yet were ignored. “He commended individuals of good conscience who recognized the injustice and rejected it. I am Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who will reject injustice, unfairness, and evil against anybody regardless of your tribe, faith, and ethnic background. Injustice to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is injustice everywhere. I remain thankful for all your support, prayers, and your good thoughts. Elohim, bless you all he said.”
Also on his social media handles, Dr Maxwell Opara posted a terse message thus: “Lovers of Freedom, I am currently departing from Sokoto with Prince Emmanuel Kanu, following our visit to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Medium Correctional Centre in Sokoto. We have been with him since yesterday.
“Despite the challenges posed by his present circumstances, he remains confident that GOD ALMIGHTY is with him and will continue to support him. He is also acutely aware that the struggle for freedom often involves intimidation, arbitrary court orders, attacks from adversaries of freedom, hatred, and envy.
“He has instructed all supporters, enthusiasts, Lovers of Freedom, dedicated lawyers and consultants, as well as the Igbo community at large, to stay focused and not be distracted by social media posts and analyses—often sponsored by his opponents—who interpret a case they have neither participated in nor reviewed thoroughly, thus neglecting the judicial misconduct committed by the judge.
“May I advise everyone to relax, as since Thursday, when the embarrassing judgment was delivered together with his subsequent transfer to Sokoto, we have not settled down to give full details of what happened. We are still busy with some other pressing tasks and in no distant period, we shall package the full analysis of all that transpired in the trial with the full certified record of proceedings of the trial, the names of all exhibits tendered which the Judge refused to evaluate and ignored in his funny judgment, the motions filed together with the exhibits which the judge refuses to take but turned around to make reference to them during his judgment.
“After the analysis with facts and documents, you will now be the judge, yourself. Before you read or share anything written by anyone in this matter ask the person if he has seen the record of proceedings of the matter! “The full record of proceedings will certainly show you how a judge left the case presented before him and the testimony of the prosecution witness, and be talking about another issue of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu represented himself, I may not go into that in public I can say that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never sacked Chief Kanu Agambi led legal team rather they left an understanding reached with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and he has instructed that no one should comment on that issue.
“Finally, I want to assure you that the Court of Appeal will definitely set aside the judgment that was predicated on anger and hatred, and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will be set free.
