TheCable

Ifeanyi Ubah, senator representing Anambra south, has sought an order of a federal high court in Abuja to visit Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu is currently in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS).

Ubah, who is also the candidate of Young Progressives Party (YPP) in the November 6 Anambra governorship election, sought the order in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, which was dated and filed on October 15, by Agugoesi Ikem, his counsel. 

He added that as a senator from the south-east, he wishes to carry out oversight legislative functions to visit Kanu to ascertain “if he is involved in any way in what is happening in the south-east.”

According to the notice, he is requesting “an order of this honourable court granting leave to Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah to visit the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, as part of his oversight legislative function”. 

He is also seeking “an order of this honourable court directing the complainant and/or the Department of State Services(DSS) to allow the said Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah access to their detention facility for purposes of visiting the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu”.

In the affidavit to support the motion, Ubah said as a lawmaker from the south-east, it is his responsibility to promote peace and security.

“That I know that the defendant in this matter was arrested and brought into Nigeria by the Department of State Services(DSS) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and since he was brought into Nigeria, he had been detained at the detention facility of the DSS pending his trial,” the affidavit reads. 

“That I know that the defendant was charged with several offences and the DSS had only produced him on one occasion in court.

“That there is an allegation that criminalities are being championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra under the leadership of the detained defendant; an allegation which has been denied severally; yet the situation continues to worsen. 

“That I visited and intend to visit the defendant in my capacity as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for purposes of attempting to ameliorate and fashion a meeting point or create a discussion table aimed at reducing tension and quelling the agitation and killings in the South East.”

The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s trial continues on Thursday.