Nnamdi Kanu has no plan to disband his legal team, says lawyer

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), says his client does not intend to reshuffle his legal team handling the terrorism charge preferred against him by the federal government.

A recent opinion piece written by Adeyemi Adegoke Olumide claimed that Kanu contemplated changing his legal team.

Olumide alleged that the IPOB leader sought to make the move due to trust issues.

Denying the claims in a statement on Monday, Ejiofor said Kanu was “visibly shocked to the marrow by the news”.

He said the IPOB leader has an “unshaken and absolute confidence in his legal team” and appreciates the efforts of the members.

“At no time did he ever contemplate, nor did it ever cross his imagination to reshuffle his legal team. Neither did he ever discuss with anybody, nor any member of his legal team or relatives, that he wanted to reshuffle or disband his legal team,” Ejiofor said.

“That the narrative desperately being pushed by the 5th columnists, was aimed at defaming, disparaging, embarrassing, provoking and frustrating his erudite Lead Counsel – Prof. Ozekhome, SAN, into abandoning him, on the purported premise that the offending publications were hatched by Onyendu.

“Onyendu reiterated his unshaken and absolute confidence in his legal team ably led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and further stated that he deeply appreciates the untiring and unmatchable efforts of Prof. Ozekhome SAN, towards securing his unconditional release from the dungeon of the DSS, having been discharged, and his further detention prohibited by the Court of Appeal since the 13th day of October 2022.

“That he is constantly in touch with Prof. Ozekhome, SAN, on every routine visit, on the update in his cases, which updates he usually received through my humble self, or the legal iroko himself.”

ON NNAMDI KANU’S HEALTH

In the opinion piece, Adegoke claimed that the news of Kanu’s failing health is “propaganda” to gather sympathy.

The writer said pictures from the IPOB leader’s court hearing counter the narrative of ill health.

“He looks well-kept, plump, and healthy. Worst for the liars, no foreign visitor, privileged to see Kanu, had come out to say he looked bad,” the article reads.

Responding to the claims, Ejiofor said his client is battling a “rapid depletion in his potassium level” and the condition “is copiously verified on oath”.

He said Kanu is also due for “surgery on his left ear” but accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of failing to allow him to undergo the procedure.

“We respectfully wish to clarify that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s deteriorating health condition, with particular reference to the rapid depletion in his potassium level, is not within the realm of speculation in the social media platforms,” Ejiofor said.

“It is a fact copiously verified on oath, and which formed the integral component of court processes, which are pending before the Supreme Court and Federal High Court respectively.

“That the DSS agent provocateur who operates by the fictitious name Adeyemi Adegoke Olumide, should confirm from his principal why the DSS failed to carry out the recommendation of their in-house medical doctor, Dr. Nasir Folarin, who booked Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for surgery on his left ear in November 2022.”

Editor’s note: A previously published oped on the subject contained unfounded claims and has been recalled.