Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has lamented that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) prevented a British Consul and a former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife from seeing the IPOB leader in detention.
The lawyer stated that the action of the DSS on Thursday was a “clear violation of the subsisting order of the court.”
He said the secret police officers had earlier on Monday denied IPOB’s American lawyer, Bruce Fein from seeing Kanu when he visited with the legal team.
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The IPOB leader’s lawyer disclosed that DSS officials said the American lawyer and British diplomat were foreigners, adding that this contradicted the court order that stated, “The Honorable Court proceeded to Order in His Ruling, that henceforth, three persons of our Client’s choice should be allowed to visit him.”
The lawyer added that, “His Lordship further clarified that the persons to visit our client are no longer restricted to his lawyers and family members but, any other person of our client’s choice.”
Ejiofor revealed this in a statement on the update of Kanu’s legal representatives’ routine visit to him on Thursday, which was made available to SaharaReporters.
He titled the statement, ‘Lawless Department Of State Security Services (DSS) Denied British Consul And His Excellency, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Access To Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Today, In Clear Violation Of The Subsisting Order Of Court.’
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The statement read, “Today’s routine visit to our indefatigable Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could not hold because the detaining authority (DSS) deliberately denied the above-named persons access to Our Client.
“Recall that the Honorable Court seised of this case, had on the 21st day of October, 2021, expanded the number of persons that could visit Our Client on any of the designated days scheduled for his routine visit.
“The Honorable Court proceeded to Order in His Ruling, that henceforth, three persons of our Client’s choice should be allowed to visit him.
“His Lordship further clarified that the persons to visit Our Client are no longer restricted to his lawyers and family members but, any other person of Our Client’s choice.
“In line with this Order of Court, we forwarded the list of names scheduled to visit Our Client on Monday, 25th October, 2021, which included Attorney Bruce Fein – our Client’s International Attorney and Legal Representative in the United States of America.
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“Attorney Fein arrived Nigeria from the United States of America to witness the Court proceedings of the 21st Day of October, 2021, and also utilize the opportunity of the visit to interface with his Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Unknown to us, a rude shock awaited us at the DSS. Upon arrival at the DSS Headquarters on Monday, 25th October, 2021, for the scheduled routine visit, the detaining authority did not stop at keeping us waiting for well over two hours, but thereafter specifically told us that no foreigner, including Bruce Fein, would be allowed to visit Our Client, and as such, he would not participate in the visit.
“The renowned International Constitutional Human Rights Lawyer was not only disappointed with the Authority concerned but was shocked at the brazen manner in which the Nigerian Court Orders are flouted with impunity by those whose primary mandate is to protect and preserve these Laws and maintain Order.
“Attorney Bruce Fein consequently left the premises of the DSS visibly broken. Apparently, he has gathered enough to feed the International Community upon his return to the United States.
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“Today was the turn of the British Consul to experience what the civilized society may refer to as the height of abnormality in the System. The innocent woman who flew all the way from Lagos on this special diplomatic engagement was denied access to Our Client, and told that she is not welcomed for the visit because she’s a foreigner.
“His Excellency, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife who was denied access to the courtroom at the last Court sitting was also denied access to our Client today without offering any reason(s). Height of impunity indeed!
“It is important to point out here that the Order of Court with regard to the number of persons and class of persons allowed to visit our Client, never restricted them to Nigerians only.
“It is more so that this clarification was made by His Lordship, following our specific complaint to the Court that Attorney Bruce Fein was not only denied access to our Client on two occasions at the DSS Headquarters but was not allowed inside the courtroom on 21st October, 2021.
“If His Lordship’s intention was to restrict foreigners from visiting our Client, the Court would have simply made it clear while responding to our application for clarification.”
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Having described the DSS’s action as the height of impunity for flouting court orders, Ejiofor vowed that he would see that justice prevails for his client to be transferred to a correctional facility.
“Though we have promptly filed another application for the transfer of Our Client to the correctional centre predicated on an entirely new set of facts, it is now crystal clear to the World that if the DSS is allowed to remain the custodian of our Client, there shall certainly be a gross denial of fair hearing and fair trial in these proceedings.
“We will equally be initiating contempt proceeding against the Head of the DSS for this gross violation of Court Order. Order of the Court must be obeyed regardless of the status of the person(s) involved or the Agency affected by the Order.
“Even though the DSS has a history of flouting Court Orders with impunity, we will pursue for the Court to step in, in this case and protect the sanctity of its Order(s). Enough is enough!
“We shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that this weighty infraction of the positive Order of Court and by extension, gross violation of our Client’s right is addressed without further ado.
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“We still appeal to our Client’s millions of followers to remain calm as we explore all legal remedies available to our Client in the circumstance of this breach.
“Your prayers and supplications should be intensified in times like this, and please do not lose focus UmuChineke because the enemies are really at work. But be assured that it will all end in Praises.
“Thank you all and remain hugely blessed UmuChineke.”
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