- Barrister Aloy Ejimakor emphasized that self-determination is not a crime under Nigerian law
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), stated on Monday that Kanu’s release is not a security issue, as some claim.
Ejimakor argued that Kanu’s case is a matter of self-determination, falling under the jurisdiction of the President or Attorney General of the Federation, not the National Security Adviser. He refuted the idea that mere broadcasts cause harm.
Ejimakor’s remarks were in response to Chike Obidigbo, who asserted that President Bola Tinubu was not responsible for Kanu’s detention and described Kanu’s case as a security issue. Obidigbo criticized Igbo politicians for politicizing Kanu’s release, which he said exacerbated the situation.
Ejimakor emphasized that self-determination is not a crime under Nigerian law, citing Article 20 of the African Charter, which is recognized in Nigeria. He also mentioned that Kenya has similar laws.
He added: “When you take anybody to any court in any country in the world and you tell that court you want the person in your country because he wants a Biafra, they will tell you to go to hell. You are a kidnapper extraordinaire. Whether you are a government or not, you are a rogue. You should not try anybody in court for wanting a separate nation.
“That is how Nigeria was founded in 1960. That was how the Midwest region was created in 1963. That is how Nigeria lost Southern Cameroon tio Cameroon. It is either called referendum or plebiscite and that is how Nigeria got Adamawa, the former Southern Cameroon into Northern Nigeria.
“Why should that of Biafra be different? It is only a crime in Nigeria. IPOB is only a terrorist organisation in Nigeria but not a terrorist organisation all over the world. That needs to tell you we hold something in Nigeria and that is why Nigeria dodged and went by night, ambushed Nnamdi Kanu and kidnapped him.
“We cannot take a government to criminal court and jail a government but we can call a government to answer to civil courts of this country. The Nigerian government must answer to these courts.
“Upon what document did the Nigerian government arrest Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya and upon what document did you bring him back to Nigeria?
“Until they have answered that question, Nnamdi Kanu remains a person that was kidnapped by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that will not stand in law. That is the fact.”
