The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on
Monday alleged of plans to try their detained
leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, under Sharia Law.
It descried such plan as an inhuman act, stating
that adopting such measure amounted to
continuing what it described as the ongoing
crime against pro-Biafra groups in Nigeria.
The group further alleged that President
Muhammadu Buhari had authorized the fresh
trial.
In a statement made available to journalists by
the group’s media and publicity secretary,
Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB lameneted that
pro-Biafra groups were going through what the
people of Biafra went through during the 1967 –
1970 civil war, that led to the destruction of the
lives of many people, mainly Christians.
Describing the alleged move to try Kanu and
others under Sharia Law, Powerful observed
that, even in the predominantly Moslem part of
Northern Nigeria, nobody had been tried secretly
under Sharia Law since the creation of Nigeria
by the British merchants in 1914 and wondered
why Kanu and other Christians in the southern
part of Nigeria should be exposed to such trial.
He expressed disappointment at the silence of
the United Nations and world leaders over the
matter concerning the IPOB leader, despite the
fact that the United Nations had in its charter, a
provision for the right of indigenous people to
self determination.
The IPOB spokesman said, “It was unfair for
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court,
Abuja to derail from the Nigerian regular judicial
process under common law, to Sharia process
considered to be a religious law and not
permissible in a supposed secular state like
Nigeria because Nnamdi Kanu was involved.
“The world must be wary of President
Muhammadu Buhari’s introduction of Sharia law
in the ongoing trial against the leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra through Justice
Binta Nyako. It is dangerous for the law court,
which is supposed to douse tension in the
country to introduce religious war.
“We, Biafrans and IPOB members worldwide,
have waited enough and are still waiting for
justice to prevail with the ongoing trial of our
leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and others detained
illegally and we have shown the whole world
how peaceful, civilized and determined we are
towards the restoration and independent state
of Biafra.
“We have called for referendum and peaceful
separation, but we have found out that it will
only bring us more harm and pain because the
United Nations and other world powers have
failed to stop the arrest and killing of unarmed
peaceful Biafra agitators.”
He added: “Are they keeping quiet until we take
up arms? We don’t see the need to take up
arms because it is not a must that Biafra
restoration will go into war for the second time
before we get our freedom.
“But if the UN and other world bodies allow us
to go into war for the second time before we
achieve our independence, it will be a war of
revenge and bitterness.
“Therefore, all efforts must be made by UN and
other people of good conscience around the
globe to ensure that Nigeria does not go to
another war like that of 1967 to 1970, in the
interest of humanity.
“Trying our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and
others detained illegally, under Sharia law is
unacceptable to Biafrans, Christians and IPOB
members worldwide. The proposed secret trial
will not be allowed to hold against our leader
and others.
“Justice Binta Nyako does not know what she is
about to start and she should be called to order
by the National Judicial Commission (NJC). Our
stand is that Nnamdi Kanu should be tried in
public since he was accused openly.”
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