Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the Lead Counsel to Mr Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has alleged that he was denied access to his client, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).×
Ejiofor, in a statement on his verified Facebook page, said this happened on Thursday despite a formal notice to the Service in line with the existing protocol and in compliance with a court order.
He also said IPOB’s lawyer in the United States of America, Mr Bruce Fein, was also on the delegation denied access.
According to Ejiofor, they were told by the DSS that the person assigned to receive them during the visit was on a special assignment and so it could not hold.
The statement reads: “Yesterday’s Court ordered visit to Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was aborted by the officials of the State Security Services on a reason we find extremely ridiculous.
“Following the arrival of Mr. Bruce Fein, a foremost American trained Constitutional Law Lawyer and IPOB’s Attorney in the United States of America, the game obviously took an interesting twist.
“Despite our formal notification to the Service, in line with the existing protocol, and in compliance with the Court-Ordered guideline, the officials of the Department of State Security Services came up with an excuse, “that the person assigned to receive us during yesterday’s visit was on A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT”, and as such, the visit cannot be conducted.
This is not only ridiculous but a clear violation of the Court Order on guideline for visiting our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“For the records, we have been consistently visiting Our Client on the specified days and time of the week, and there hasn’t been any time we were denied access to him on the ground that an individual assigned to receive us was not available.
“Needless to mention, that no one individual has been specifically assigned to receive us on any of the visits. They are fully aware that the visit takes place every Monday and Thursday.
“Thankfully, we have another date for Monday, and we do hope that this individual will be available on Monday to receive us, whilst we have taken steps to formally bring this latest infraction to the attention of the Court.
“We will continue to update you all, while we continue to urge for your relentless prayers and understanding. We are winning, you can be assured. Thank you all and remain blessed.”
Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, did not respond to an enquiry on the matter at the time of filing this report.
Credit: The Nation