By Eric Elezuo

A member of the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu legal team, and Lead Counsel of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor Esq., has dismissed as false the news making the rounds that Kanu has sacked hisead counsel, Prof Mike Ozekhome, and the entire legal team.

Ejiofor made the clarifications in a statement he signed himself, denouncing Kanu’s brother, Kingsley Kanu, who purported originated the sack story as an opportunist, who does not have the interest of the IPOB leader at heart.

Ejiofor’s statement is presented in full below:

Update on Today’s Visit to our Indefatigable Client – ONYENDU MAZI NNAMDI KANU – AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SERVICES (DSS), ABUJA, WHERE HE IS STILL BEING ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTIONALLY DETAINED IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT; AND A REJOINDER TO THE FAKE NEWS MAKING THE ROUND ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA TO THE EFECT THAT MAZI NNAMDI KANU’S LEGAL TEAM ABLY LED BY PROF. MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN, HAS PURPORTEDLY BEEN “DISMISSED” BY ONE KINGSLEY KANU, ALIAS KANUNTA KANU, who lives in Germany and does not even know anything about Onyendu’s case. To show his ignorance or deliberate falsehood, he lied that Prof Ozekhome has refused to visit Onyendu since 11TH OF MAY, 2023,whereas the erudite Professor of law actually led me to have an over 2 hours meeting with Onyendu and the DSS on the 3RD of JUNE, 2023.

We visited our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu –TODAY, being the 15th DAY OF JUNE, 2023, at the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, to brief him on matters relating to his cases in Court, including his matter coming up on the 20th OF JUNE, 2023, before the Federal High Court, Abuja. Matters of concerns relating to his deteriorating medical condition occupied the centre stage of our discussions.

It is important to make the following statements/clarifications:

1) The Medical Doctors that attempted to see Onyendu last week Tuesday being 6th OF JUNE, 2023, were not there to participate in any surgical procedure, but to first meet and interface with Onyendu.on a preliminary basis.

2) The Medical Doctors were expected to consult with our lead counsel- Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, before proceeding with other administrative engagements as we unanimously agreed upon during our well over one hour meeting of 3RD JUNE, 2023, led by Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, which was held with the DSS in the presence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who participated in and approached all the decisions reached at the meeting.

3) 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. 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 27thJune, 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.

4) In view of the desperate attempt of the enemies to break our ranks, the legal team resolved to minimize the information that we make public through my regular updates. Therefore, you will not, as in the recent past, be receiving updates on our routine visits as regularly as it used to come, except when there is a compelling situation that demands for it, as the present one specifically demands.

Several visits to Onyendu, and particularly, the visit of 3RD JUNE 2023, was deliberately not publicized because of the confidential nature of the matters discussed, but all relevant persons were duly briefed about the outcomes.

5) May I use this medium to address an obvious HIGHLY DEFAMATORY and VERY DISAPPOINTING PUBLICATION which was brought to my attention immediately upon I stepped out of the meeting venue of my routine visit to Onyendu at the SSS Headquarters, Abuja. Unarguably, the author intended to serve some satanic mischief through a diet of falsehood and defamatory publication.BUT,HE HAS FAILED.

6) 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 since 2015, by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are still firmly with me till date.

7) 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. It was not until 22nd December, 2022 (6 months later), that Ozekhome finally accepted the the brief. During that first meeting between him and Onyendu, which details are already in the public domain, Onyendu PERSONALLY BRIEFED Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to head his legal team. He also instructed me to put the briefing in writing, which I did to his satisfaction. Till date, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN has done excellently and overwhelmingly well in deploying his deep knowledge of the law, advocacy skills and daring bravado to represent Onyendu in all courts in Nigeria, churning out successes upon successes.

8) Further to the above, my briefings with Onyendu TODAY, lasted for WELL OVER one-hour, during which we discussed pertinent issues concerning his legal and health matters. There was NO TIME HOWSOEVER during the meeting that Onyendu entertained or expressed any iota of doubt WHATSOEVER on the ABILITY AND CAPACITY of his indefatigable legal team, ably led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to defend him. Onyendu, also proceeded to avail me with other important messages to be passed on to his said lead counsel, which assignments are expected to be conducted WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

9) Kingsley Kanu in a bid to preempt any exposition I may make after today’s visit, proceeded to make the extremely ridiculous publication at exactly 1:57pm Nigerian time, a few minutes before the scheduled visit of 2:00pm, but which drawn to my attention immediately I left Onyendu.He need not have worried himself, because out of respect and deference to Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I did not and I do not intend to make any such exposition.

10) As you may be aware, right from the 26th of July, 2021, when an order was made by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako, directing the DSS to allow Onyendu access to his lawyers and relatives, upon prior submission of the names of those visiting Onyendu, my chambers has been exclusively submitting names of those visiting Onyendu,on his personal instructions and this process has continued since then and still subsists till date. The names are usually shared with Onyendu before clearance is finally given by the DSS for the visits to take place.

11) Against the backdrop of the foregoing, I wish to unequivocally state that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu NEVER AT ANY TIME EVER DISMISSED, DISENGAGED, NOR has he EVER expressed any intention of ‘dismissing’ his legal team ably led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN. Biafrans and indeed the members of the general public are respectively advised to ignore in its entirety, the obviously FALSE, BASELESS, DEFAMATORY, MISCHIEVOUS, FAKE, REPREHENSIBLE, DENIGRATING, INSULTING AND UNAUTHORIZED Public Notice issued by one Kingsley Kanu, alias Kanunta Kanu, a person not even known to Prof Ozekhome. The alleged public notice is a blatant lie from the pit of hell fire as it is NOT TRUE.

12) May the general public and indeed Biafrans, be properly guided that the simple reason for dishing out such condemnable falsehood is to ridicule and embarrass Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team ably led by an erudite, foremost and distinguished Senior Advocate of our time – Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN. They hope to get him angry and leave Onyendu to his fate for them to prey on, a step the learned SAN has vowed not to take inspite of such shenanigans.

13) Kingsley Kanu should be assured that his evil strategies are DEAD ON ARRIVAL. There is nothing whatsoever, that will stop or deter Onyendu’s legal team which is tirelessly working day and night to ensure that Onyendu is released unconditionally. AND HE WILL BE RELEASED, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, to their eternal shame and embarrassment.

14) In conclusion, Onyendu further used the opportunity offered by my visit today to convey his deepest appreciation to Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, for his humane and robust legal defence; and also thank Ezigbo UmuChineke for standing shoulder to shoulder with him, particularly all through this trying time. Onyendu assured Ezigbo UmuChineke once again that it shall surely end in Praises. He urges you all to remain firm, steadfast, and unrelenting in your supplications to God.

Furthermore, Onyendu implores Ezigbo UmuChineke to continue to abide by your peaceful conduct as you have consistently demonstrated.

Thank you all, Ezigbo UmuChineke, and remain blessed.

We move!