Organization For Biafran Freedom - OFBF

05/22/2023

What else can one conclude other than that Government is Complicit in the unchecked Crime of the herders?

Armed Fulani herdsmen have attacked yet another Benue State community, killing scores of residents including four Nigerian soldiers and burning down villages. SaharaReporters reliably gathered on Monday that the attack took place on Sunday at Iyer village in Uvir Council Ward in Guma local governmen...

05/03/2023

He said it all listen till the end!

11/30/2022

Court sentences police IGP to prison for disobeying court order -Guardian

The Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, to three months in prison for disobeying a court order.

The order was followed by a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/637/2009 filed by a former police officer, Patrick Okoli who claimed he was unlawfully and compulsorily retired from the Nigeria Police Force in June 1992.

A Bauchi high court on Saturday, February 19, 1994, delivered judgment in favour of Okoli and quashed the letter of compulsory retirement and ordered that the applicant be reinstated with all rights and privileges.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) in a letter dated Wednesday, October 13, 2004, directed the then-IGP to reinstate the applicant and issue a recommendation for promotion in accordance with the decision of the court.

Consequently, Okoli is requesting the court seeking an order of mandamus to compel the enforcement of the order of the Bauchi state high court and the directives of the PSC.

The Abuja federal high court delivered its judgment in favour of the applicant on Friday, October 21, 2011. Meanwhile, the office of the IGP appealed the federal high court judgment but the appeal was dismissed.

Justice M. O. Olajuwon on Tuesday ruled that the IGP has disobeyed a court order made on October 21, 2011, and should therefore be detained in custody for a period of three months, or until Baba obeys the order.

The judge said; “It is unfortunate that the chief enforcer of the law is one who has deliberately refused to comply with the same law. It is important to state that obedience to orders of the court is fundamental to the good order, peace and stability of a nation,”

“It is a duty which every citizen, who believes in peace and stability of the Nigerian state, owes the nation and the court has a duty to commit the individual who has failed to carry out the order of the court for contempt, so as to prevent the authority and administration of law from being brought to disrespect and to protect the dignity of the court.”

The court also states that if the IGP refuses to comply with the orders of the court at the end of the three months, he shall be committed for another period until he purges his contempt.

Comment:
Hope it doesn’t take this long for him to be convicted for another contempt of Court and committed to prison for refusing to release MNK.

10/26/2022

Breaking: Again, Federal High Court orders Nigeria govt to return Nnamdi Kanu back to Kenya, award him N500 million damages
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Wednesday, floored the Federal Government as the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia upheld his suit against the federal government.

The court presided over by Justice Evelyn Anyadike awarded N500 million cost against the federal government.

The Court ordered he should be returned to where he was before he was Illegally extradited to Nigeria
That’s, Federal High Court ordered Nigeria govt to return Nnamdi Kanu back to Kenya

In another development, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has filed fresh 100 Billion Naira Lawsuit Against Nigeria govt for Illegal detention and continuing violation of Court order. The Nigeria's Appeal Court has earlier this month dropped all charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu after ruling that he had been illegally arrested abroad. The Appeal Court also ruled that the Federal High Court did not have the jurisdiction to try Mr Kanu.

Stay tuned!

10/25/2022

BREAKING News!!!- Round 2
Nigerian Govt Lost Again At the Appeal Court Against Nnamdi Kanu.

The Abuja Court of Appeal turned down the Federal Government request seeking to stay the ex*****on of the judgment that cleared the terrorism charges against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

According to the lawyer to Kanu, Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN), the court upheld the freedom of Kanu and added that it is illegal the continued detention of Kanu after the court’s judgement.

What next?
Hold the Nigerian Government, Attorney General and his agents “Contempt of Court”

10/17/2022

UPDATE ON OUR TODAY'S VISIT TO OUR INDEFATIGABLE CLIENT – ONYENDU MAZI NNAMDI KANU AT THE DSS HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA, WHERE HE IS NOW BEING ILLEGALLY AND UNCONSTITUTINALLY HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT, IN GROSS VIOLATION OF THE POSITIVE ORDERS OF THE COURT OF APPEAL:

We have just left the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, after our fruitful meeting/engagement with our ever resolute, indefatigable, erudite, and uncompromising Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Okwuchukwu Kamanu Ozuzu Kanu.

Onyendu was exceedingly overjoyed with the news of the erudite judgement of the Court of Appeal, a copy of which was also made available to Onyendu. Onyendu could not hold his joy and immense gratitude to our legal team, ably led by the man of the letters – Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.

He is profoundly grateful to UmuChineke for your resoluteness and prayers, which impacted so positively in this victory.

As you are all aware, upon the delivery of this judgement on the 13th day of October, 2022, the detention of Onyendu in the facility of the DSS, which was strongly condemned and equally prohibited by the judgment of the Court of Appeal under reference, became gravely illegal and unconstitutional as there is nothing whatsoever, legalising the further detention of Onyendu in the detention facility of the DSS. Unfortunately, the breach of Onyendu’s Fundamental Rights by the autocratic Government of Nigeria has continued unabated till now.

But, be assured, UmuChineke, and the entire World that we are aggressively pursuing total compliance with this Court Order within every permissible legal precinct and shall keep everyone updated.
Onyendu’s legal team eminently led by a legal icon, a foremost and an accomplished leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome is not relenting.
The Court Order must be obeyed whether they like it or not. No criminal charge of any form can be filed against Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu again, and no indictment of any nature can be taken up against him. We have won them hands-down.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has totally run out of options, and the only valid OPTION available to them now is to obey the Order made by a very Superior Court of record and immediately free Onyendu. The time is now, and it is irreversible!

Today, being the 17th day of October, 2022, the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered on the 13th day of October, 2022, which unconditionally freed Onyendu, was served on the Attorney General of the Federation - Abubakar Malami SAN, and the Director General of the State Security Service (DSS) Headquarters, Abuja.

The DSS is expected to immediately enforce the positive Orders of the Court and immediately release Onyendu without further ado and unconditionally.

We shall be exploring far reaching legal measures to command immediate compliance with this erudite Court judgement freeing Onyendu, though the details of our strategic legal engagements shall remain private.

Thank you all Ezigbo UmuChineke and remain hugely blessed.

We have won and won them forever. They can never recover from it again.

We move.

Signed:
Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq. (KSC)
IPOB’s Lead Counsel
17th October, 2022

10/13/2022

Victory Round 1 for MNK:

Nnamdi Kanu: Nigerian court drops charges against separatist Ipob leader:

Nigeria's Appeal Court has dropped all charges against separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu after ruling that he had been illegally arrested abroad.
The court also ruled that his extradition had been illegal.
The ruling by a panel of three judges is seen as a major blow to the government which had detained Mr Kanu on various treason and terrorism-related charges.
He leads the banned indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) group.
Ipob is campaigning for the creation of an independent state in south-eastern Nigeria.

Mr Kanu - who holds a UK passport - fled Nigeria in 2017 before he was seized and brought back in 2021.

His 2021 arrest abroad was illegal because extradition protocol was not followed, the court said.
Kenya has not commented on whether it played a role in Mr Kanu's deportation to Nigeria.
The Appeal Court also ruled the Federal High Court did not have the jurisdiction to try Mr Kanu.
He initially faced 15 charges, but eight had previously been dropped.
He was originally arrested in 2015 but he fled Nigeria in 2017 while out on bail. He had previously denied any wrongdoing.
Ipob wants a group of states in the south-east of the country, largely inhabited by members of the Igbo ethnic group, to break away from Nigeria and form an independent nation called Biafra.

In 1967 Igbo leaders declared independence for the state of Biafra, but after a civil war, which led to the deaths of up to a million people, the secessionist rebellion was defeated.
But the idea of Biafra has never gone away and despite the arrests of his members, Mr Kanu's movement has seen a recent swell in its numbers.

Source: BBC News.

08/04/2022

There is heavy protest in Aba Abia state. The Igbo youths are on the street protesting against the killing of Igbo Youths by Ebubeagu state security. Last month 14 Igbo youths who were coming back from traditional marriage were murdered by Ebubeagu in Awo Omamma Imo state. Since the inauguration of Ebubeagu state security outfit by South Eastern Governors thousands of Igbo youths have be targeted and murdered unjustly.

A civil rights group, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), said that no fewer than 1,360 persons killed and rendered 51,000 people homeless in the South-east region in 20 months. The civil rights group said about 150 communities in Igbo land have been raided within the period, and about 1,400 homes destroyed.

Meanwhile Family Writers Press International investigation revealed that Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodinma contracted Asari Dokubo to recruit Kalabari Youths against the Igbos. In a telephone conversation with the Commander of Ebubeagu who is currently on the run, he said the Ebubeagu members are “mostly from Kalabari and Port Harcourt side, and some few other Hausas who are working with Nigeria police.”
The Igbo Youths have staged protest from Imo, Enugu and now Abia state, demanding that Ebubeagu must be abolished.


FWPI.

07/26/2022

Release Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally — UN tells Nigeria •Condemns alleged torture, indicts officials:

The United Nations, UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, has indicted both Nigeria and Kenya Governments for the arrest and extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, without due process.

UN therefore, asked Nigerian Government to, “immediate release Kanu unconditionally” and pay him adequate compensations for the arbitrary violation of his fundamental human rights.

It also recommended that Government officials responsible for the torture meted to the IPOB Leader be investigated and punished.

The UN body further directed Nigeria to report back within six months of the transmission of its opinions on Kanu’s matter, steps taken to comply with all the recommendations thereof.

It referred the case of Kanu’s torture to Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for further consideration

The UN Working Group also threatened to take further action to ensure the recommendations are complied with, noting that both Nigeria and Kenya are signatories to the Convention and should comply.

The 16-page report dated July 20, 2022 was adopted on April 4 by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 93rd session, held between March 30 – April 8, 2022.

The unedited version of the document sighted by Vanguard, was marked:”Opinion No. 25/2022 concerning Mr. Nwannekaenyi Nnamdi Kenny Okwu-Kanu (Nigeria and Kenya).

According to the report, Nigeria replied to the communication on 25 January 2022 while the Government of Kenya did not reply. Both countries are parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“Noting the failure of the Government to explain what actions of Mr. Kanu amounted to such criminal acts and how, and observing the lack of any evidence that any of his actions may in fact amount to such crimes, the Working Group concludes that Mr. Kanu is in fact being persecuted for the peaceful exercise of his rights, most notably his freedom of opinion and expression.

“In the present case, the Government of Nigeria has presented no exceptions permitted under article 19 (3) of the Covenant nor is there any evidence to suggest that Mr. Kanu’s exercise of his right to freedom of opinion and expression was anything but peaceful.

”In fact, the Government has chosen not to provide any explanation for the arrest, detention and subsequent proceedings against Mr. Kanu. In these circumstances, the Working Group concludes that Mr. Kanu’s detention is thus arbitrary under category II”, UN Working Group said.

The Working Group also said there was no evidence that International laws were observed in the arrest and rendition of Kanu from Kenya.

The 16-page dossier read in part: “In the present case, Mr. Kanu was not furnished with an arrest warrant by Nigerian authorities nor was he promptly informed of the grounds for his arrest in Nigeria.

Consequently, the Working Group finds that Mr. Kanu’s continued deprivation of liberty violates his rights under articles 3 and 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 9 of the Covenant, and principles 2, 4, and 10 of the Body of Principles and constitutes arbitrary detention under category I.”

“Furthermore, in order to establish that a detention is indeed legal, anyone detained has the right to challenge the legality of his or her detention before a court, as guaranteed by article 9 (4) of the Covenant. The Working Group wishes to recall that according to the UN Basic Principles and Guidelines on Remedies and Procedures on the Rights of Anyone Deprived of their Liberty to Bring Proceedings before a Court, the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention before a court is a self-standing human right, which is essential to preserve legality in a democratic society.

07/19/2022

OTULU GENOCIDE: HOPE UZODINMA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE CHARGED FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

By Collins Opurozor

Otulu is in Oru West LGA of Imo state. It used to be a peaceful place. I recall now with great pain the hospitality of the people. I can tell for a lifetime so many amazing stories of this land. But, for no known crime of theirs, Otulu now bleeds. Gory videos showing heaps upon heaps of slaughtered human corpses are all over the internet. Protesting youths of the community were also filmed with tens of wheelbarrows filled up with butchered human parts.

By the roadsides, footpaths and highways, corpses of very young boys murdered in cold blood could be seen in great numbers. Images of weeping women, sobering elders and crying kids in Otulu are similar only to those from the infamous Rwandan genocide or those from Adolf Hitler's extermination camps in Sobibor during the deadliest phase of the Holocaust.

The questions now are: What happened? Why were countless number of young people brutally murdered in Otulu? What was their offence? Almost all the eyewitnesses in the videos are saying that the dreaded strike force known as Ebubeagu which is directly under the command of Chief Hope Uzodinma ambushed some young men on their way to a traditional marriage and murdered all of them. Some went further to allege that one of the militiamen in Uzodinma's strike force is a notorious cultist who returned from Mozambique.

So far as Otulu community is concerned, the squad that perpetrated the genocide against ostensibly innocent youths were Uzodinma's Ebubeagu hitmen, and the victims were only guests to a traditional marriage ceremony. They were not criminals. They were not bearing arms. They never fought anyone. The hapless youths were simply rounded up and killed one after the other in the most gruesome manner by Ebubeagu.

Before now, stories of this nature have been heard in Orlu, Orsu, Oru East and West. It has been severally alleged that Ebubeagu militia in those areas would often stop moving vehicles, drag down young men, undress them to check if there are marks of talisman on their bodies, and instantly kill those with marks. It has also been alleged day after day that Ebubeagu killers would invade homes at night in search of young men. Those captured are often shot dead in the full glare of their traumatized family members. Beer parlours and restaurants are not spared, as it has also been reported that many have been shot dead by Ebubeagu at drinking joints.

In the face all of these, Hope Uzodinma has failed to take responsibility for the vicious actions of his men. When he decided at last to speak yesterday, he quickly denied that his men had committed genocide in Otulu. He said it was not Ebubeagu that killed them, that instead the DSS went to a camp operated by bandits and neutralized the bandits.

What Uzodinma is telling the world is that all the members of the community who could bear witnesses to the carnage and who helped in picking up the numerous corpses from the roads where the young men were murdered, are all liars at the same time. What this may imply is that Uzodinma has marked out a whole community of people as a camp for bandits even without showing any evidence of them having weapons. This means everyone in Otulu could be killed.

But how does Uzodinma want to explain to his listeners that the corpses which were seen everywhere in the streets of Otulu came from bandits' camp? Why should we accept that people now deserve to die in Imo without due process of law? Uzodinma obviously has questions to answer over the Otulu genocide.

The Rome Statute of 1998 that established the International Criminal Court is very clear on things that constitute crimes against humanity. The state-sanctioned ravages being reported in Otulu, Orlu and other parts of Imo state are part of them. Every young man today in Imo is endangered. Anyone could be killed at anytime. The world must now rise up quickly and save Imo people from extermination by intervening and ensuring that Uzodinma is taken to the International Criminal Court for the ongoing genocide in his state.

07/09/2022

UPDATE ON OUR ROUTINE VISIT TO OUR INDEFATIGABLE CLIENT - ONYENDU MAZI NNAMDI KANU AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE SERVICES (DSS) ABUJA, TODAY, BEING THE 7TH DAY OF JULY, 2022:

The Court-Ordered routine visit to our indefatigable Client - Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was conducted today, exclusively by the legal team. The visit afforded us the opportunity to individually brief Onyendu on our respective undertakings.

Onyendu expressed deep satisfaction with the level of progress so far recorded in all pending matters in various courts. Details of strategic legal measures being adopted to expedite the proceedings directly affecting Onyendu, in order to secure his speedy and unconditional release remain private.

We, hereby confirm to Onyendu’s numerous followers, supporters and fans that he is safe, by the Grace and Protection of the Almighty Chukwuokike Abiama.

This visit also afforded us the opportunity to express our fears on the safety of residents in Abuja and its environs, following the prevailing national security breaches in the F.C.T.

It is no longer news that known terrorists freely struck without any form of resistance from security personnel, executed a well planned successful "prison-break" of the highly secured and heavily guarded Kuje Correctional Facility, and escaped unscathed!

This most recent unfortunate incident is still troubling the residents of the F.C.T. particularly, we lawyers, who are at the forefront of this case.

With the infiltration of hardened criminals released on account of this "prison-break", into our society, particularly the F.C.T., we are now to be sleeping with one eye open. However, Onyendu encouraged us not to despair nor entertain any fear, as ChukwuOkike Abiama shall continue to intercede for us.

Even though we have not lost faith in the power of the Almighty Man in Battle to protect His own, and Onyendu in particular, these concerns have been noted by the relevant authorities, whose attention we have drawn following the unfortunate incident.

Onyendu continues to enjoin all his followers, supporters and all Ezigbo UmuChineke to remain peaceful and law abiding as always.

Also, Onyendu thanked all Ezigbo UmuChineke for your prayers and particularly, those who expressed concerns for his safety on the aftermath of yesterday’s unfortunate terrorist attack.

Onyendu specifically requested, that you all should be assured that Chukwuokike Abiama will never forsake him, while tenaciously holding onto his avowed conviction that it shall surely end in Praises. His victory is certain, and there is no going back. "Who has spoken and it came to pass unless the Lord has commanded it?"

On a concluding note, Onyendu urged you all to continue to keep your eyes focused on the ball, while remaining law abiding, as you have always been.

Forward ever and backward never until victory is assured. It is still "a luta continua; vitória é certa".

Thank you all, Ezigbo UmuChineke and remain hugely blessed.

We move!

Signed:
Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq.
IPOB's Lead Counsel
7th July, 2022.

07/02/2022

Home News:

Killing of Christians: US senators accuse Buhari’s govt of sponsoring terrorism, ask Blinken to redesignate Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern.

Over four US senators have written to the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, urging him to immediately redesignate Nigeria as Country of Particular Concern because of the constant killing of Christians by Islamic terrorists in the country.

In a statement jointly signed by the lawmakers which a copy was made available to Newsband, Blinken was blamed for removing Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in 2021 despite no demonstrable improvement in the country’s religious freedom conditions.

The Senators in the statement further accused Nigerian authorities of restricting and cracking down on religious minorities and detaining individuals indefinitely on blasphemy-related charges.

It however directed Blinken to revert Nigeria’s position as Country of Particular Concern.

The statement reads, “As you are well aware, horrific acts of deadly violence have been committed against Nigerian Christians in recent weeks, including the massacre of churchgoers on Pentecost Sunday and the stoning of a Christian college student. Sadly, such violence has become all too familiar for Christians in Africa’s most populous country.

“Last year, however, you inexplicably removed Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) despite no demonstrable improvement in the country’s religious freedom conditions. On the contrary, the situation in Nigeria has grown worse. We previously urged you to immediately reverse your misguided decision, and we write today to renew our call.

Recent high-profile acts of violence underscore the intense religious persecution that is regularly experienced by Nigerian Christians. On Pentecost Sunday, gunmen attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Nigeria’s Ondo state, reportedly killing at least 50 churchgoers. Last month, a violent mob brutally stoned to death Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu, a student at Shehu Shagari College of Education in northwest Nigeria.

“According to reports, some Islamist students were enraged by a “blasphemous” message Deborah had posted in a WhatsApp group, in which she said that “Jesus Christ is the greatest. He helped me pass my exams.” Merely expressing one’s Christian faith has apparently become tantamount to a death sentence in many parts of Nigeria.

“Religious violence and intolerance directed toward Nigerian Christians has worsened in recent years. One report documented more than 4,650 cases of Nigerian Christians who were killed for their faith in 2021. Accordingly, Nigeria earns the dubious honor—for the second consecutive year—of being the deadliest country on earth for Christians.

“We wrote last year that “[n]ot only has the government of Nigeria failed to take meaningful steps to mitigate such violence, but Nigerian authorities restrict and crack down on religious minorities and detain individuals indefinitely on blasphemy-related charges.” We remain concerned that the Nigerian government is failing to protect the religious freedom and basic safety of its Christian citizens.

“Furthermore, as this year’s annual reports from the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and from your own Department make clear, Nigerian government authorities directly participate in the persecution of Christians, Muslims, and even non-theists, most notoriously through arrests and convictions under blasphemy laws. Make no mistake: continued enforcement of state-sanctioned blasphemy laws enables the type of deadly violence that killed Deborah Emmanuel Yakubu and so many others.

“When we previously wrote you, we were met with a response which failed to answer our questions about why the State Department views Nigeria as not having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom” or even “severe violations of religious freedom.” This is unacceptable, especially because you are required by federal law to consider the
recommendation of USCIRF—which, since 2009, has been to designate Nigeria as a CPC.

“In fact, USCIRF reiterated in its 2022 Annual Report that it was “appalled” at the removal of Nigeria’s CPC designation. Despite public statements from you and other State Department officials condemning the recent bloodshed in Nigeria, the fact remains that the Department still does not officially regard Nigeria as a severe violator of religious freedom.

“The State Department released its 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom on June 2, which starts the 90-day timeline for the Department to make its religious freedom designations. Given the abysmal state of religious freedom in Nigeria, it is incumbent upon you to reverse last year’s decision and redesignate the country as a CPC. The moment demands that you do so without
delay.