TheCable

Ifeanyi Ejiofor says he and Mike Ozekhome have not been dismissed as counsels to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB). 

In a tweet on Thursday, Kanunta Kanu, younger brother of the IPOB leader, said the services of Ozekhome and Ejiofor are no longer required.

“I hereby formally notify Mike Ozekhome and Ifeanyi Ejiofor that their services are no longer required in Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria and all (cases) concerning him,” Kanunta wrote.

Among several allegations, Kanunta claimed that Ozekhome has refused to see Kanu at the detention facility of the Department of Security Services (SSS) since May 11, despite the IPOB leader’s “several” requests.

He also accused Ozekhome of preventing doctors sent by the family from carrying out a medical examination on the IPOB leader.

Responding in a statement issued on Thursday, Ejiofor countered Kanunta, saying the dismissal notice is “false, baseless, defamatory, mischievous, insulting, and unauthorised.”

Ejiofor said Kanunta lives in Germany and “does not even know anything about Onyendu’s case”, adding that he and Ozekhome have been visiting the IPOB leader and that the latest took place on June 15.

“Biafrans should note and be assured that Onyendu’s legal team ably led by the legal iroko of our time – Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is closely monitoring every situation about and around Onyendu,” the statement reads.

“We are not resting on our oars to get him freed and released from his illegal and unconstitutional detention after his discharge by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, which also prohibited his further detention or trial on the charges he was standing trial for before his extraordinary and forceful rendition from Kenya to Nigeria on 27th June 2021.

“There is, therefore, no cause for alarm as the Supreme Court is set to finally decide the matter on the 14th of September, 2023, immediately after the annual vacation.

“We are thousands of miles and steps ahead of the evil plans of the enemies both from within and from without. Onyendu will be out of the DSS gulag strong and unbroken by the grace of God.

“Let it be on record and be known to the whole world that neither Kingsley Kanu nor Emmanuel Kanu had at any point in time briefed me to handle Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case or even IPOB matters.

“My letters of engagement issued to me in 2015 by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are still firmly with me to date.

“Neither Kingsley Kanu nor anybody acting on his behalf ever engaged Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to represent Onyendu in any matters affecting him.

“Biafrans and members of the public are aware that Onyendu specifically requested to see Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, upon his forceful abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2023.”