The Indigenous People of Biafra
(IPOB) on Monday alleged of plans to try their detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu, under Sharia Law.It described such plan as an inhuman act, stating that
adopting such measure amounted to continuing what it described as the ongoing
crime against pro-Biafra groups in Nigeria.The group further alleged that President
Muhammadu Buhari had authorised the fresh trial.
In a statement made available to
journalists by the group’s media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma
Powerful, IPOB lamented that pro-Biafra groups were going through what the
people of Biafra went through during the 1967 – 1970 civil war, that led to the
destruction of the lives of many people, mainly Christians.Describing the
alleged move to try Kanu and others under Sharia Law, Powerful observed that,
even in the predominantly Moslem part of Northern Nigeria, nobody had been
tried secretly under Sharia Law since the creation of Nigeria by the British
merchants in 1914 and wondered why Kanu and other Christians in the southern
part of Nigeria should be exposed to such trial.
He expressed disappointment at the
silence of the United Nations and world leaders over the matter concerning the
IPOB leader, despite the fact that the United Nations had in its charter, a
provision for the right of indigenous people to self-determination.
The IPOB spokesman said, “It was
unfair for Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja to derail from
the Nigerian regular judicial process under common law, to Sharia process
considered to be a religious law and not permissible in a supposed secular
state like Nigeria because Nnamdi Kanu was involved.
“The world must be wary of
President Muhammadu Buhari’s introduction of Sharia law in the ongoing trial
against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra through Justice Binta
Nyako. It is dangerous for the law court, which is supposed to douse tension in
the country to introduce religious war.
“We, Biafrans and IPOB members
worldwide, have waited for enough and are still waiting for justice to prevail
with the ongoing trial of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others detained
illegally and we have shown the whole world how peaceful, civilised and
determined we are towards the restoration and the independent state of Biafra.
“We have called for the referendum
and peaceful separation, but we have found out that it will only bring us more
harm and pain because the United Nations and other world powers have failed to
stop the arrest and killing of unarmed peaceful Biafra agitators.”
He added: “Are they keeping quiet
until we take up arms? We don’t see the need to take up arms because it is not
a must that Biafra restoration will go to war for the second time before we get
our freedom.
“But if the UN and other world
bodies allow us to go to war for the second time before we achieve our
independence, it will be a war of revenge and bitterness.
“Therefore, all efforts must be
made by UN and other people of good conscience around the globe to ensure that
Nigeria does not go to another war like that of 1967 to 1970, in the interest
of humanity.
“Trying our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu
and others detained illegally, under Sharia law is unacceptable to Biafrans,
Christians and IPOB members worldwide. The proposed secret trial will not be
allowed to hold against our leader and others.
“Justice Binta Nyako does not know
what she is about to start and she should be called to order by the National
Judicial Commission (NJC). Our stand is that Nnamdi Kanu should be tried in
public since he was accused openly.”
SOURCE: DAILYPOST
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