HURIWA Slams Supreme Court, Says Extension Of Kanu’s Case Tactic To Deny IPOB Leader Freedom

…says fresh charges against Kanu incredibly criminal

Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA), on Thursday, criticised the Supreme Court over the adjournment of the hearing of a case involving the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

HURIWA also said the Federal Government’s fresh nine new grounds of appeal against Kanu is incredibly criminal. Besides, HURIWA accused President Muhammadu Buhari of creating the spectacular security crises in Igboland by his arbitrary execution of draconian military action against perceived members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra just as these military actions since Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested, has undermined peace, economic growth and have created Monumental security nightmares in all of the Igbo States in what appears like a deliberate economic genocide by President Muhammadu Buhari against Ndigbo. HURIWA asked President Muhammadu Buhari to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu immediately and unconditionally in compliance with an extant judgment of the Court of Appeal which freed Nnamdi Kanu.

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the perpetual adjournment of the case of the IPOB leader by the courts since mid-2021 is a tactic by the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to perpetually deny Kanu of his fundamental right to freedom.

The group called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to visit to Kanu in the custody of the Department of State Services to ascertain the health condition of Nnamdi Kanu and hundreds of other detainees including those who have disappeared without trace since Muhammadu Buhari’s civilian junta came on board in 2015.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel for Nnamdi Kanu, Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, informed the court of his motions seeking for bail of his client and another seeking for his transfer to the Kuje Correctional Facility to get proper medical attention citing his failing health at the custody of the DSS.

The court subsequently fixed May 11 for a hearing on the pending motion and the main appeal.

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “We condemn the Supreme Court for extending the illegal detention of a citizen but political cases are decided rapidly. The Supreme Court must be the bastion of human rights protection but the current set of justices are in love with political litigation and care less about fundamental right issues.

“Also, the fresh nine charges brought against Kanu by the Nigerian Government is an afterthought to keep denying Kanu his fundamental rights.

“We unequivocally demand Kanu’s unconditional and immediate release from illegal incarceration. His detention now is ‘HOSTAGE TAKING’ by Muhammadu Buhari who failed to obey Appeal Court judgment freeing him whilst influencing the ethically rotten SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA to differ hearing in the government’s appeal against Kanu’s release ad-infinitum. Generations unborn will remember Malami and justices of Supreme Court of Nigeria of today as SABOTEURS OF DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

“We Call for UN Human rights council’s visit to DSS facilities to ascertain the conditions of Nnamdi Kanu and hundreds of other detainees including those who have disappeared without trace since Muhammadu Buhari’s civilian junta came on board in 2015.”

April 27, 2023
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko
National Coordinator – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA.