Enemies of Nnamdi Kanu attacking Mike Ozekhome’s efforts to secure his release — IPOB lawyer Ejiofor

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and a renowned human rights lawyer, has declared that the sacrifices and achievements of Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in the legal battle to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention must not be buried under what he described as the “shallow grave of ingratitude.”

Ejiofor condemned recent attacks on Ozekhome, describing the critics as enemies of Nnamdi Kanu, individuals who, according to him, are reaping benefits from Kanu’s continued incarceration.

In a strongly worded statement, Ejiofor emphasized that Ozekhome’s contributions are not matters of speculation but are verifiable and grounded in legal history.

“It is a matter of verifiable history, from the outset, at the Federal High Court, where the original 15-count charge against Nnamdi Kanu was challenged, eight counts were struck out based on our objections. Dissatisfied with the remaining seven charges, Prof. Ozekhome led the legal team to the Court of Appeal. On October 13, 2022, the appellate court, in a unanimous judgment, discharged and acquitted Nnamdi Kanu of those remaining charges.” he stated.

He noted that all these victories were secured within a single year, a feat he attributed to Ozekhome’s legal acumen, diligence, and unwavering commitment to justice.

“These are not mere tales; they are tangible legal victories. Even after the resumption of Kanu’s trial, those earlier eight counts have never resurfaced. That speaks volumes about the integrity of the legal process led by Prof. Ozekhome.” Ejiofor said.

He decried what he termed the growing trend of malicious misinformation, stating that Ozekhome’s reputation is being attacked with the stroke of a keyboard, in an environment where the line between truth and falsehood is increasingly blurred.

“Many of the recent attacks on Prof. Ozekhome are not born of honest disagreement, but are rather the calculated handiwork of manipulation orchestrated by individuals and groups who profit from division and confusion,” he said.

He further suggested that some of the so-called authors of defamatory statements against Ozekhome may not even be aware of how or when such materials, bearing their names, are published in the public domain.

Ejiofor reaffirmed his confidence in Ozekhome’s integrity and reaffirmed the commitment of the legal team to pursue justice for Nnamdi Kanu, undeterred by detractors.

The statement reads in full:

The evolution of both social and print media has transformed human communication beyond recognition. News, opinions, and commentary now travel across continents in the blink of an eye.

Yet, as with every great invention, this same revolution has birthed a darker twin, an age in which falsehood travels faster than fact; where reputations can be shredded at the stroke of a keyboard; where the once sacred line between truth and fabrication is blurred beyond recognition. In this space, slander flourishes unchecked, and malicious narratives often gain more traction than truth.

It is within this poisoned atmosphere that certain unscrupulous elements, some brazen in their identity, others hiding in the shadows like night-crawlers, have laboured to diminish the monumental contributions of one of Nigeria’s most celebrated human rights advocates: an erudite scholar, a social crusader, a legal iroko of our time, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN. His work in leading the defence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a matter of opinion but of public record, yet, there are those determined to rewrite history with the corrosive ink of falsehood.

Over time, I have taken deliberate care to unmask these purveyors of poisonous rhetoric, those who craft incendiary, defamatory, and outright fabricated publications, designed not to enlighten but to mislead. My findings have been both sobering and revealing. Many of these attacks are not born of honest disagreement but are the handiwork of manipulation, orchestrated by forces that profit from discord. Often, some of the so-called “authors” may themselves be unaware of when or how such writings, bearing their names, are released into the public space. Fear of unseen consequences has become their prison, compelling them to swallow narratives they never chewed. But this veil of deception will not endure forever; all signs suggest that its tearing is nearer than many expect.

It is against this backdrop that I salute the courageous, disciplined, transparent, and focused leadership of this global peaceful movement. In their unequivocal public clarification, they have rightly and firmly distanced the organisation from those mercenaries of mischief, procured to tarnish the name of a man who stood like a fortress, traversing courtrooms and public spaces/functions, within and beyond Nigeria in pursuit of justice for Nnamdi Kanu. This statement is not mere administrative housekeeping; it is an affirmation that integrity remains the backbone of our cause, and that gratitude is a duty, not a choice.

The sacrifices and achievements of Prof. Ozekhome cannot be buried by the shallow grave of ingratitude. The record is indisputable: it is a matter of verifiable history. From the very outset at the Federal High Court, where the original 15-count charge against Nnamdi Kanu was challenged, eight counts were struck out by the court while ruling on our objection. Dissatisfied with the retention of the remaining seven, Prof. Ozekhome led an appeal to the Court of Appeal. On 13 October 2022, in a unanimous judgment, the appellate court discharged and acquitted Nnamdi Kanu of those remaining charges. These resounding victories were all achieved in barely one year. It is to be noted that those earlier eight counts have never resurfaced, even after the resumption of trial. This is not a tale; it is tangible legal victory, secured through diligence, skill, and an unyielding commitment to justice.
Yet critics, armed with more venom than veracity, have twisted the narrative surrounding the Court of Appeal’s grant of a stay of execution. They cast undeserved blame out of sheer mischief or wilful ignorance, because the court improperly invoked civil procedure rules in a criminal matter. But the proper course for any lawyer, bound by the ethics of the profession, is to challenge such rulings through the lawful channels of appeal, not to launch personal attacks on the Justices, nor to indulge in courtroom theatrics. Indeed, our notice of appeal to the Supreme Court explicitly includes a ground addressing this very issue. Those who peddle contrary expectations either lack legal knowledge or deliberately mislead.

Perhaps, in their fevered imagination, what they truly expected was to see a revered Senior Advocate leap over the bench on the day of the ruling and physically engage the Justices in combat, a grotesque display that would have satisfied their hunger for drama and content. Such absurdity betrays more about their understanding of the law, or the absence thereof, than any serious legal analysis could.

The leadership’s statement is not merely a shield for one man’s honour; it is a clarion call to discipline, unity, and gratitude. It affirms the truth that when the righteous are in authority, peace, love, and harmony are not just ideals, they become the climate in which a people thrive, even in seasons of trial. The task before us is vast: to purge Ala-Igbo of the rot and evil that have for decades strangled its potential. This is not the work of a moment, but the unfolding of a promise, like the divine mission entrusted to Daniel in leading his people toward deliverance.

As we forward this press release, let history bear witness: liberation is never secured by those who trade in suspicion, slander, deceit, criminality, fraud, or dishonesty. It is secured, and kept, by those who build with steady hands, brick by brick, victory by victory, until the walls of injustice collapse under the weight of truth.

Let us, therefore, walk in truth. For in truth, our freedom lies”.