Our sons aren’t terrorists, say Afenifere, Ohanaeze

• IPOB: Allegations Incoherent, Untenable
• Afenifere, YCE, Ohanaeze: Our Sons Not Terrorists
• Govt. Playing Double Standard, Says HURIWA

There was outrage across Nigeria yesterday as the report of the Federal Government’s 24-man committee blamed the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, for the murder of Dr. Chike Akunyili, Ahmed Gulak and 1777 others in the South east zone.

The panel also linked Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo (a.k.a Sunday Igboho) to a Boko Haram sponsor, Surajo Muhammad, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Arab Emirates for financing terrorism.

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneeze Ndigbo, IPOB, Afenifere Renewal Group, Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Yoruba Ronu and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), all condemned the report, describing it as incoherent, untenable and outright falsehood.

In the reaction of YCE to the report, the Secretary General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, told The Guardian that the allegations against Igboho were outright falsehood.

His words: “I can tell you clearly that as far as we are concerned here, Igboho has no link, to the best of our knowledge, with any terrorist group. And in any case, the way he (Igboho) organised his protests in all the Yoruba state capitals, he did not violate any laws of this country. There was no iota of violence reported anywhere. He was just mobilising frustrated and unemployed youths to champion what he believes could be in the best interest of Yoruba nation.

“Yes, we may not agree with him but nevertheless we don’t grudge him because we are in a democracy where everybody is free to express his or her views and state their opinions as long as they do not breach the laws of the land. Malami’s position is a false allegation.”

Chairman of ARG, Mr. Wale Oshun, said: “I am sure that every Nigerian knows that Malami causes confusion. What is at stake in the whole of this country is the question of justice. He is a Minister of Justice but basically he is an unjust person. Where was Malami when the armed herders, bandits and criminals coming from outside the country, and who are not even Nigerians, were taking over our forests, attacking our women, stopping farming from taking place? Now maize that we used to buy for below N80, 000 a tone is now going for about N240, 000 because our people could no longer go to farm. Where was Malami then? Because Igboho was able to put a stop to that, does that make him a terrorist? Malami is minister of injustice, let him continue.

“Malami should just be careful; he is looking for any flimsy reason to nail Igboho who is not a terrorist. As far as we are concerned, Igboho stood for the welfare of his people.” The counsel to Igboho, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), challenged the Federal Government to mention the name of the lawmaker allegedly sponsoring the activist.

Alliyu declared that his client is not a terrorist but a businessman, doing legitimate business. In a statement, Alliyu said the Federal Government was only trying to paint his client in the bad light.

“Our attention has been drawn to a text press conference by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice wherein he fruitlessly tried to paint our client and those patronising his car trade as terrorists and/or financiers of terrorists.

“I have gone through the text. Sunday was alleged to have transferred the sum of N12.7 million to Abbal Bako and Sons owned by Abdullahi Umar. Transferring money to bureau de change to buy dollars is what is done by every businessman of our client’s calibre. Thank God that his passports and various bills of ladings were carted away by DSS during the ungodly invasion of July 1, 2021.

“Thus, so far, there is no evidence of receipt of money from Abbal Bako and Sons or Abdullahi Umar going by the text conference. What the AGF stated are mere conjectures. Not hard fact. Our client, according to him, paid Umar and NOT vice versa.

“The picture the AGF wanted to paint is that our client is being financed by Abdullah Umar allegedly involved in terrorists financing. Who is now financing who? Again, Chief Adeyemo is a car dealer trading in the name of Adesun International Concept Ltd. Does it mean that anybody buying car from him or selling car to him is a terrorist?” the counsel queried.

Alliyu said Igboho was not into Oodua Nation until last year, hence, finding over N273 million turnover between October 2013 and September 2020 shows that he was not a poor man. His house invaded by DSS on July 1, 2020 is worth over N2billion!

“I challenge the AGF to mention the lawmaker that sent money to Chief Sunday Adeyemo for terrorist act whether he would not found himself in exemplary damages for defamation.

“Up till date, our client has not been prosecuted or found liable for any criminal act or terrorism. There is also a valid and subsisting court judgment that agitation for self-determination is not an act of terrorism but fundamental human right of any citizen.

“My learned AGF knows that suspicion, no matter how great, cannot grant conviction. Chief Sunday Adeyemo is not a terrorist but a campaigner for self-determination,” Alliyu maintained.

On its part, IPOB said the committee’s report was not only disgraceful but also showed that the Federal Government had nothing against her leader.

A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said: “We note with great dismay the kind of incoherent and untenable allegations coming from a supposedly Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria. What a disgrace! Why not wait for us at the law court instead of resorting to media trial. That shows he has no case to prove against IPOB.

“This latest show of shame by Malami also shows the level of his ignorance and cluelessness on the office he occupies. To put the records straight, IPOB remains a peaceful movement, and was never involved in such barbarities Malami was linking IPOB with.

“Instead of killing security agents, IPOB members have been the victims of the extra-judicial killings by the wicked Nigerian security operatives as no fewer than 20,000 of our members have been murdered in cold blood by the Nigeria security agencies. It is not controvertible that innocent IPOB members and Biafran youths have been wasted at different times by the Nigeria security agencies. This genocide against IPOB is still ongoing, yet they want to suddenly change the narrative.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo said that the report had made it obvious that there was a desperate attempt by the Federal Government to give Kanu a bad in order hang him.

National Publicity Secretary of the group, Chief Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, queried the rationale behind such report on Kanu whose matter is already in court. According to him, it is now clear that government lacks sufficient evidence to prosecute the IPOB leader.


“I think what they are trying to do is to heap all atrocities in Nigeria on Kanu. At what point did they investigate to arrive at their conclusion that he is the cause of all the killings they listed in the southeast region? Does it mean that there is no case of gunmen any longer? It is not about making allegation but substantiating the claims with verifiable evidence. I want to let the Federal Government know that the whole world is watching and we cannot keep quite when they try to employ antics that could undermine his fair trial. What is happening is an indication that they are desperately looking for evidence to give him a bad name. It is unfortunate,” he said.

Elder statesman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, who expressed worry over what he described as “public trial” of Kanu, warned against actions that could deepen misgivings and suspicion in the country.

Wondering why the committee should issue such a statement when the government had some days ago amended its seven-count charge against Kanu, Okorie stated that it would be sad if the committee fail to back up the said report with verifiable evidence.

“I am worried that an allegation as weighty as this is coming up when trial is underway and a few days after the Federal Government through the AGF amended its charges. Is it because the amended charges came with evidence? The truth about it all is that the government should allow the trial go on. Nobody is saying Kanu should not be tried. Let the court do their work and not by public statements. It shouldn’t have been so when a matter is underway and a day after the court had adjourned hearing. So we should watch it,” he said.

Emeritus President General, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, described the development as a “Nollywood story with Malami as director and producer and so many minor players.”

He stated that such allegation against the IPOB would continue as long as Malami and President Muhammadu Buhari remain in power. “The mentality of those in power now is crush him with anything possible.”

Uwazuruike, who is part of the legal team assembled by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to defend Kanu, insisted that the allegation was a “fairytale.”

“No serious lawyer will address this kind of press conference that has no substance. What they are doing is to instigate the public into believing that there is something. All those charges can only go in where there is no judiciary or where there is subdued judiciary. I am aware that those charges have been challenged in court and without waiting for the court to rule, the AGF decided to take the case to public domain.

“I can assure you that we will respond in due time to every line made by the Attorney General. There is nothing about the allegations. It is propaganda and mishmash of inefficiency of the Federal Government. I won’t be surprised that one day, they will blame Kanu for the kidnapings taking place in the whole of the North, bombing of police stations there, among several other atrocities. This government is grossly inefficient and somebody wants to justify the inefficiency by blaming it on Kanu. It is unfortunate.”


The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) also faulted the report. In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said there was a clear evidence of double standard in the area of public prosecution of politically exposed individuals from either North or South.

The statement read: “The government, particularly the Ministry of Justice has consistently manifested aversion or lack of enthusiasm towards bringing suspected terrorists from the northern part of Nigeria to justice but it is always overzealous to charge other persons from the South with certain phantom allegation of terrorism and the Justice Ministry is busy conjuring up half-baked allegations to hang it on the necks of either Nnamdi Kanu or Sunday Igboho.

“A good example will suffice; Nnamdi Kanu versus certain elements and divisive leaders of Miyetti Allah that have been quoted in the media for supporting the activities of the armed Fulani headsmen who are terrorists.

“These same leaders of Miyetti Allah who are in Nigeria have made treasonable statements challenging the authorities of the state governments that have carried out the legal passage of laws on the anti-open grazing legislation and have not only made threats but carried out their threats like in Ondo State.

“The National President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association has threatened fire and brimstone in the Southeast of Nigeria just because people rejected Ruga Fulani initiative of the president.

“A few months after these threats were published in the media, and still on the internet as I speak, there were sporadic attacks targeting strategic national security institutions and assets and the government’s at both the Southeast and centre have refused to conduct proper forensic investigation but have hastily blamed Eastern Security Network and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra. IPOB denied.”

https://guardian.ng/news/more-allegations-against-kanu-igboho-our-sons-arent-terrorists-say-afenifere-ohanaeze/

Whydo we 4got easly, buhari was the suppoter of bokohara before he was elected.ar we so dumb?

Number one supporter of terrorism calling people terrorist ..is this not laughable??

Vv

Everyone wants to trend using Buhari.

When the atrocities of this satanic government was unfolding, many SW brethren were always quick to defend it even blaming the Igbos for not believing in a failed country but now the divide and rule game plan of the fulanis is clear for all to see.This govt is always quick to tag anyone opposed to its evil agenda terrorists& wants to hang such on frivilous allegations.

Well,"there is also a valid and subsisting court judgment that agitation for self-determination is not an act of terrorism but fundamental human right of any citizen.The AGF knows that suspicion, no matter how great, cannot grant conviction."

[s]

benuejosh:
Everyone wants to trend using Buhari.

[/s]No sensible or right thinking person will wish to catch any fucking cruise with such a humanity that said things like:
"Major General Muhammadu Buhari has faulted the federal government’s clampdown on Boko Haram Islamic insurgents...."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/buhari-faults-clampdown-on-boko-haram-members/amp/

“I will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria”, God willing, we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the Sharia in the country”

....The spread of Sharia is ‘’a legal responsibility which God has given us, within the context of one Nigeria to continue to uphold the practice of Sharia whole-heartedly and to educate non-Muslims.

What remains for muslims in Nigeria is for them to redouble their efforts,educate muslims on the need to promote the full implementation of sharia law” 

Buhari has made his advocacy for sharia clear, those who wish to vote him to power can either accept it or pretend that it does not matter, 
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/12/insurgency-buharis-call-full-sharia/

Nigerians have short memory

Buhari = Boko Haram

am even tired with this so called thing
i did not even know what to say

Tell them

Actually, here is the chief supporter of Boko Haram. The Boko Haram baby sitter.