The so-called rebuttal by the Director, Legal Affairs, Research and Global Communications of the proscribed IPOB appears to be an illiterate approach to legal issues, talk more of an issue pending before the Court of Law. It is a total misalignment of facts apparently targeted at gaining sympathy for a lost cause from gullible followers.
IPOB should be reminded that it is “Sub judice” to discuss issues that are subject of Court proceedings. However, in order to curb widespread misinformation that could mislead innocent readers, I would indulge their ignorance.
The mischief maker and his croonies forget that the court admitted a videoclip where Kanu was inciting people to kill security personnel and burn down their vehicles in the heat of the EndSars protest. In the same video, Kanu called for the killing of President Tinubu and the destruction of his business interests in Lagos. He was confronted with those videoclips, and he admitted to making them without any objection from his lawyers.
The glaring illiteracy of the sham IPOB ‘illegal’ directorate is rather appalling. It is a trite law that “he who asserts must prove same.” They claimed that the evidence of the FRN was based on google edited videos, but their defence counsel failed to cross-examine the witness that tendered the evidence in order to challenge its credibility or otherwise.
IPOB should once again be reminded that the Court Order proscribing IPOB in 2017 pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 has not been overturned or challenged. The order is gazzetted by the Federal Government. The Court of Appeal also ruled on 30th January 2025, affirming the ruling of the Federal High Court, which proscribed IPOB as a terrorist group.
Of course no criminal commits a crime and admits to it, even when caught pants down, the fact remains that a transmitter was smuggled into the country, which Kanu himself stated on video, the same video led security personnel to Ubuluisiuzo in Anambra state. Because the transmitter was apparently smuggled, there was no documentation from Customs nor was there license for setting up a radio station in any part of the country by the group. So isn’t IPOB shooting themselves in the leg by asking for proof of documentation for a smuggled item?
If the transmitter was not seized, it would have aided Kanu in further propagating destructive messages against the country. These forms part of acts preparatory to the commission or in furtherance of acts of terrorism.
How can the Supreme Court be “under the impression that a law that was amended was still in force”? That is the highest Court in the country and its decisions are final. The court ordered Kanu to face the trial “de novo” (afresh), which is almost over, reason why his delusional apologists are desperately running pillars to post. The trial Court would decide whether the charges are valid or not.
And on the legality or otherwise of the procedure of arresting Kanu, that is left for the Court to decide, it bothers on esoterics of International law and should not be deflated by baseless or jaundiced bias.
Again, social media propaganda will not save him from facing justice and the consequences of his actions.
