Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Reacts To Assault Of Odumeje By Anambra Govt Officials

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has condemned the assault on Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanemere, also known as Odumeje by Anambra government officials on Thursday.

It would be recalled that a viral video on the internet shows Odumeje being slapped by officials of the Anambra state government task force for obstructing a demolition process.

It is understood that his ministry building located at no 88B Bida Road, Fegge, Onitsha, was marked by the Anambra State government for demolition in April.

The church building is reportedly sitting on a huge canal and obstructing waterways, prompting the government to order its removal as an illegal building in line with the plan to demolish over 200 buildings in Onitsha blocking the drainage linking the River Niger.

An aide to the cleric on Thursday noted that the church is intact, but the fence and security post were affected by the demolition process.

Reacting in a statement on Friday in Abuja, Ejiofor slammed Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State over the behaviour of the Task Force officials, describing their action as ridiculous and unacceptable.

The lawyer also advised the governor to condemn the actions of the officers and warned them to desist from further harassment of innocent civilians in the guise of enforcing the law.

Ejiofor said the gross abuse of public office by the power-drunk officers is a grave disregard for the sanctity of human life.

He also demanded reparation for the infraction to assuage the trauma the clergyman must have gone through, which he said must be followed by an unreserved apology.

The statement read in part, “Yesterday, being the 7th day of July 2022, video clips of the grievous assault on Prophet Chukwuemeka Odumeje surfaced online. We were not quick to jump to conclusions until necessary contacts were made to ascertain their authenticity.

“I personally called Prophet Odumeje to confirm the authenticity or otherwise of the degrading video clips.

“Governor Soludo should be properly guided to immediately (keep a tight) rein on the lawless enforcement officers he deployed to torment an innocent civilian, in the guise of task force.

“It is sad to note that this is not a palatable start for the hitherto, highly rated Governor of Anambra state, who is just spending his first 100 days in office, still issuing statements without tangible results yet.

“We, the Anambrarians are not averse to his Excellency’s people-orientated policy, geared towards bringing the proceeds of good governance home

“I hereby urge the governor to maintain civility by sanctioning the activities of these lawless officers around him.”

Meanwhile, Governor Soludo has condemned the manhandling of Prophet Odumeje by a government taskforce personnel on Thursday.

Soludo in his reaction stated that he has directed that the task force personnel involved in the manhandling of Odumeje be treated by the law of public conduct which he broke.