Nnamdi Kanu Urges FG to Withdraw Soldiers from His Parents’ Funeral

 

The leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has called on the federal government to immediately withdraw soldiers from his Afaraukwu hometown in Abia State, venue of his parents funeral.

Kanu, who has been on self-exile since 2017, when he jumped bail granted him by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the call was predicated upon the need to avoid another bloodshed in the South-east zone of the country.

He spoke through his lawyer, Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, on Monday in Abuja.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, Ejiofor recalled how four persons lost their lives recently as a result of police activities during the burial of his brother, and urged security operatives to stay away from the burial of late Eze Isreal Kanu and his wife, Ugoeze Sally Kanu, slated for this weekend.

According to the lawyer, the burial of Kanu's parents is a private affairs and it is within the rights of the family members to decide who to or not to attend.

He also stated that as at the moment of his addressing journalists, there is no law stopping the burial of the late traditional rulers or is he aware of any order or law preventing Kanu from attending or performing burial rites of his late parents.

 

However, when asked if Kanu would be attending the burial, Ejiofor said he cannot at this time give a specific answer.

Kanu is currently standing trial in absentia in an alleged treasonable felony charge after he jumped bail in 2017.

Justice Nyako had admitted Kanu to bail in April 25, 2017, on health ground, but the defendant failed to attend trial since November 2017, prompting the court to revoke his bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Justice Nyako in a bench ruling also held that the court would continue the trial of Kanu, who is believed to be taking refuge in one of the foreign countries, in his absence.

His whereabouts was initially unknown after soldiers invaded his ancestral home in Abia State.

Kanu and four others were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a six-count criminal charges bordering on treasonable felony in June 2016.

Though they pleaded not guilty to the charge, however, bail was denied them by the different judges who had earlier tried the matter, including Justice Nyako. However, Justice Nyako, following the deteriorating health of the first defendant, admitted him to bail to enable him access quality medical care.