Not Enough But We Commend The Boldness Of The Judiciary – IPOB Reacts As Court Orders FG To Pay Kanu ₦1bn

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has commended the court declaration which ordered the federal government of Nigeria to pay its leader, Nnamdi Kanu ₦1bn in damages.

IPOB in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful observed that though the amount is not enough to compensate for the troubles the government and its agencies have put Kanu through or the loss of lives and belongings, the judiciary must be commended for the boldness to make such a declaration.

The statement stated further that the court ruling has vindicated the group and its leader while also exposing the atrocities committed by the government when soldiers visited the country home of Nnamdi Kanu in 2017.

Naija News reports the submissions by Powerful follows Tuesday’s order from Justice Benson Anya of the Federal High Court in Umuahia which directed the Federal Government and the Nigeria Army to pay N1billion to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The presiding judge ruled that the fine was for invading the IPOB leader’s house in September 2017.

Justice Anya also directed the government and the Army to apologize to Kanu for the violation of his Fundamental Rights and the illegal invasion of his home.

The presiding judge described the invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu residence in Abia State as notorious and brazen.

The orders were given in a ruling on the fundamental right suit filed by Kanu against the Federal Government before Justice Anya, through his special counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

IPOB in a reaction to the court order says the Judge has vindicated its leader and pointed out that Kanu didn’t jump bail but escaped an assassination attempt by the military when soldiers invaded Afaraukwu in 2017.

Powerful said: “Following the victory judgment received yesterday January 19th, 2022 in Abia State High Court sitting in Umuahia, we the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command and leadership of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU, commend the Presiding Judge for his courage to declare the infamous military invasion of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s house illegal. We commend the court for granting justice to our leader at a time Nigerian judiciary is fast losing the confidence of the world due to compromised rulings by some corrupt judiciary officers.

“This latest judgment has to some extent redeemed the image of the judiciary in Nigeria and we ask other judges handling IPOB matters to help salvage completely the battered image of the judiciary in Nigeria in the eyes of your global colleagues in the judiciary.

“We equally appreciate the efforts of Barrister Aloy Ejimakor and his team of lawyers for securing true judgment in this matter.

“Since September 14th, 2017, when this atrocity was committed, no court in Nigeria has been brave enough to condemn the barbarity and brutality of the military until this judgment.”

Powerful added that the military invasion of Afarukwu kingdom on September 14th, 2017 was with the aim to, “eliminate our leader Mazi Nnamdi KANU but God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama saved him from the evil hands of Fulani-controlled Federal Government security agencies.”

He added: “It is true that the award of #1billion damages can not equate or compensate for the enormous loss of life occasioned by that barbaric military action, however, the symbolism is very clear. The Umuahia High Court ruling exposed the truth about the goings-on to eliminate anybody found as a supporter and sympathizer of Biafra agitation.

“The judgment also vindicated our leader who never jumped bail contrary to the allegation but only escaped assassination by the military.”