Nnamdi Kanu declares, “I won’t beg for my freedom.”

After being cleared by Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, informed the Federal Government he would not beg for his release.This was written in a letter signed by Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Kanu’s lead attorney, and dated August 25, 2023.

Our correspondent received access to the letter late on August 28, 2023.Ozekhome has expressed alarm about the appalling state of Kanu’s Department of State Services-run incarceration facility.

The attorney asked that a magistrate be appointed by the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory’s High Court to conduct an inspection of the detention facility.Kanu claims that pleading for his release at this time would be an affront to the memory of the late Pa Mbazulike Amechi, who travelled to Abuja from the South-East on multiple occasions despite his advanced age and poor health, pleading with the Federal Government to grant his final request, which was met with the utmost contempt and was not granted.

According to a statement released by Kanu’s attorney, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, titled “Update on our routine visit to our indefatigable client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Headquarters of the State Security Services, Abuja, where he is still being illegally and unconstitutionally detained in solitary confinement,” these were the main topics of conversation during the meeting between the IPOB leader and his attorneys and family.

According to Ejiofor, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu expressed his sincere thanks to all good individuals and organisations advocating for his release during the visit. Though he acknowledged that many people might not have recognised the unique circumstances of his case, he went on to ask us to make it clear that he has been lawfully and effectively released by the Court of Appeal’s October 13, 2022, ruling, which also forbade his detention and subsequent trial. As a result, as of right now, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not the subject of any outstanding legal proceedings.

Also, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu categorically declared that pleading with the Federal Government to grant his request to be released at this time would be an affront to the memory of the late Pa Mbazulike Amaechi, who, in spite of his advanced age and poor health, frequently travelled from the South-East to Abuja to beg the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant his final wish. The request was met with the utmost contempt from the Federal Government and was not granted.Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is therefore adamant that he does not require the FGN’s pardon.

A ruling in that regard has already been rendered by the Court of Appeal, and it has stood the test of time.Consequently, in light of his ongoing unauthorised detention, every person of good will should request that the Supreme Court schedule an expedited hearing for the Federal Government’s appeal, as allowed by the Court’s Criminal Appeals Practise Directions.

“Today, August 28, 2023, we paid a visit to our tireless client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to inform him of the steps that the legal team, skillfully headed by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, had taken to address relevant concerns regarding his well-being and the SSS’s refusal to provide him with his medical records.

“To this end, in accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, our learned Lead Counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, has applied to the Honourable Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory to appoint a Magistrate who will visit and inspect the SSS facility/cell where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been held in solitary confinement since June 2021 to the present.

After the State Security Service (SSS) refused to provide Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with his medical records, as ordered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako in the July 20, 2023, judgement, our learned lead counsel, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was forced to file a contempt lawsuit against the SSS and her Director General for this flagrant violation of positive Orders of Court due to the SSS’s blatant disregard for a court order.