Nnamdi Kanu Disowns MEND & Avengers from Kuje Prison, Set for Talks with FG

Posted by Odinaka on Fri 12th Aug, 2016 - tori.ng

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, who has been languishing in Kuje prisons, has said that he has no ties with MEND and the Niger Delta Avengers.

Nnamdi Kanu during a court appearance in Abuja

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who is one of Nnamdi Kanu's lawyers, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has disclosed that he has no ties with the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

Recall that the militant groups had given the release of Kanu, who has been in Kuje prison in Abuja since 2015, as one of the conditions for the return of peace in the Niger Delta region.

But the legal practitioner, Ejiofor, said his client has no relationship with any militant group, hence MEND could not have represented him in any negotiation with the government.

“In the past few days, the media was awash with news of negotiation going on between the federal government and members of MEND, where our client’s name (Nnamdi kanu) conspicuously featured.

“It is on that note that we wish to inform the general public that Nnamdi kanu has no connection, contact, ties or any form of relationship with the members of MEND.

“As such MEND has no implied, direct or express authority of Nnamdi Kanu to represent him or IPOB in any purported negotiation, going on between MEND and the federal government. The general public is accordingly advised to ignore, discountenance and disregard the falsehood being peddled by MEND.

“Nnamdi Kanu does not know them. However, Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to a political solution in resolving the present politically-orchestrated ordeal. Nnamdi Kanu welcomes genuine political solution to this case,” he said.

Reacting to the federal government’s decision on Thursday to release some members of the group who were arrested in February, Kanu’s lawyers, led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the Amoebi Nzelu, said they were not opposed to talks with the government.

“Nnamdi Kanu is not averse to political solution in resolving his present politically orchestrated ordeal.

“He welcomes genuine political solution to this case. Nnamdi Kanu has people of proven integrity and impeccable character that will negotiate on his behalf, based on his demands when communication on this effect is established.”

While responding to a question on whether Kanu would abandon his campaign for an independent state of Biafra in exchange for freedom, Ameobi Nzelu, another lawyer, said that his client would not jettison the agitation even if he was released.

“It is not easy to drop an ideology. IPOB is bigger than Nnamdi Kanu. Self-determination is as a result of marginalisation,” he said.