From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday warned the Federal Government against any attempt to try its leader, Nnamdi Kanu under the Sharia Law.
IPOB said trying Kanu under Sharia Law would amount to continuation of the “ongoing crime against pro-Biafra groups in Nigeria,”.
The group added that what the groups were passing through now was like what the people of Biafra went through during the 1967 to 1970 civil war that claimed lives of many people.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State capital, the Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful decried the alleged move by the Federal Government.
He noted that not even in the predominantly Muslim part of northern Nigeria had anybody been tried secretly under Sharia since the creation of Nigeria by British merchants in 1914.
The IPOB spokesmantherefore, wondered why his leader, Kanu and other Christians in the southern part of Nigeria should be exposed to trial under Sharia law, meant for Muslims.
Powerful insisted that it was unfair for the presiding judge, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja “to derail from the Nigerian regular judicial process under the common law, to Sharia process, a religious law not permissible in a supposed secular state like Nigeria because Nnamdi Kanu is involved.” “Trying our leader and others detained illegally, under Sharia Law is unacceptable to Biafrans, Christians and IPOB members worldwide. The proposed secret trial will not be allowed to hold against our leader and others detained.
“Justice Nyako does not know what she is about to start and she should be called to order by the National Judicial Commission (NJC). Our stand is that Nnamdi Kanu should be tried in public since he was accused openly.”
Also worrisome to IPOB is the silence of the United Nations (UN) and other world leaders over the IPOB leader’s matter, despite the UN’s Charter that provides for the right of the indigenous people to have their self-determination.
“The world must be wary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s introduction of Sharia Law in the ongoing trial against the leader of IPOB through Justice Nyako. It is dangerous for the law court, which is supposed to douse tension in the country, to introduce religious war.
“We, Biafrans and IPOB members worldwide, have waited enough and are still waiting for justice to prevail with the ongoing trial of our leader and others detained illegally.
“We have shown the world how peaceful, civilised and determined we are towards the restoration and independence of Biafra.