IPOB decries S’Court’s silence on Kanu’s pending appeal

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has expressed concern over silence and refusal of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to hear the appeal case of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, despite accelerated hearing processes filed on the case.

IPOB also stated that the stance of the Supreme Court has shown that Biafrans are not safe in Nigeria, and that the Supreme Court’s posture justifies Biafrans’ quest for a referendum to decide their economic and political future as an independent nation.

IPOB’s Spokesman, Emma Powerful, in a statement said: “Recent political developments and ethnic profiling of Ndigbo in Nigeria are also playing out in the case of Kanu, which has been held down by justices of the Supreme Court.”

Citing that lives of Biafrans, particularly Ndigbo, are endangered in Nigeria,  Powerful stated that  IPOB has noted that the Supreme Court was  giving accelerated hearings to political cases brought before it,  but has  kept mute over the human right abuse of Kanu, who, it stated, has been  illegally detained in solitary confinement at the Department of State Services (DSS) for almost two years now.

According to IPOB, “ the continuous silence and refusal of the Supreme Court to set a date of hearing on appeals brought before them by Federal Government against the discharge and acquittal order from the Abuja Appeal Court has shown that the apex court is not neutral in this case.”

Describing Kanu as a prisoner of conscience, who was abducted and tortured in Kenya before his rendition to Nigeria by the Nigerian secret agents, Powerful recalled that on October 13, the Abuja Appeal Court discharged and acquitted Kanu  and ordered Nigerian government to pay him adequate compensation.

Powerful added: “Instead of releasing Kanu as ordered by the Appeal Court, Federal Government ran to the Supreme Court to frustrate the Appeal Court orders and appealed the case.

“Over 150 days after the appeal was lodged, the apex court, which ought to be the last hope of a common man, has maintained silence, thereby, giving Federal Government opportunity to continue the torture and illegal detention of Kanu.”