FG have replied and denied
the allegation that they sent their Policemen to the Office of IPOB at
92 Wetheral Road Owerri and arrested the Claimants’ officers. 
Emeka Emekesri Esq.
We act as the Solicitors for Indigenous
People of Biafra [IPOB] as represented by Bilie Human Rights Initiative
in Suit No FHC/OW/CS/192/2013 between Biafra and Nigeria in the Federal
High Court Owerri in which the Claimants brought a human rights action
by way of originating summons seeking to exercise their right to
self-determination.
We write to inform our clients that the
Defendants have replied to the Claimants’ Motion on Notice which was
filed for an Injunction against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the
Attorney-General of the Federation.
In the course of these proceedings, our
clients informed us that some Policemen from the Imo State Police
Headquarters, State CID (Criminal Investigation Department), came into
the Office of Indigenous People of Biafra at 92 Wetheral Road Owerri and
arrested Engr Innocent Amadi (the President of Bilie Human Rights
Initiative) and Elder Eddy Anyanwu (the Secretary) who represent the
Claimants in Court and carted away their books, signboard, case-files,
office accessories, etc.
These men were detained by the Police
until very close to midnight before they were released unconditionally.
We were informed that the Police had thought that the two officers of
our clients were among those preaching violence and ethnic hatred in the
name of Biafra but upon finding that they arrested the wrong persons by
mistake, the Police released our clients. However, our clients informed
us that the Police have not returned the items which were carted away
from their office.
Our clients were embarrassed and
humiliated even though the Police had realised their mistake. The
Claimants resolved that such a mistake, if indeed it was a mistake,
should not happen again. Consequently, our clients instructed us to file
a Motion on Notice for an Injunction against the Federal Republic of
Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation seeking for the
following Orders:
1. An Order of Injunction restraining
the Defendants and their agents, servants and privies from further
arresting, detaining, harassing, intimidating, and or howsoever
disturbing the Claimants until the final determination of this case;
2. An Order of Injunction compelling the
Defendants to return to the Claimants all the properties of the
Claimants including case files, books, certificates, folders, letters,
documents, signboard and all Office equipment and accessories carted
away and seized by the Defendant’s police officers from the Claimants’
Office on 6th November 2015;
We hereby inform our clients that the
Defendants have replied to the Claimants’ Motion on Notice and denied
every allegation of sending their Policemen to arrest the Claimants’
officers from the Office of Indigenous People of Biafra at 92 Wetheral
Road Owerri.
In a nutshell, they said that they did
not send any Policeman to arrest the Claimants. The Defendants made
their reply and denial by a Counter Affidavit dated 15th Jan 2015 served
by their Solicitors, Prof Yemi Akinseye-George SAN & Partners, on
the Claimants’ Solicitors, Mekadolf Chambers.
We cannot comment on the merits of the Motion on Notice and the Counter Affidavit because the matter is subjudice.
We can only inform our clients that the
Defendants have replied and denied the allegation that they sent their
Policemen to the Office of Indigenous People of Biafra at 92 Wetheral
Road Owerri and arrested the Claimants’ officers.
It is the duty of the Judge to decide
who is telling the truth. Nobody has the right to comment on the merits
of an issue that is pending in Court until the Court decides it. As both
parties have joined issues on the Motion on Notice, their lawyers will
present their legal arguments on the next adjourned date being 30th
March 2016.
In the meantime, we advise all
Indigenous People of Biafra to submit to and obey the Customary
Government of Indigenous People of Biafra headed by the Supreme Council
of Elders.
As we have said before, we emphasise
again that the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra is a
legitimate government under the Nigerian Legal System in accordance with
the rules of International law and customary practice.
Though it is not sovereign, the customary governance provides an internal command structure for a nation-in-waiting.
Biafra is a nation-in-waiting like a
child conceived in the womb which must be nurtured to maturity and be
delivered at the due date without miscarriage.
By the rules of the modern international
law, the UN and the international community can only recognise a new
nation that emerges by due process of law.
Emeka Emekesri, Esq.
Mekadolf Chambers
Solicitor for Indigenous People of Biafra
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