Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the leader for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Department of State Service of subjecting Kanu’s lawyers to treatments meted out to hardened criminals on visits to their client who is in detention.
Ejiofor, who said they visited Kanu in the DSS custody on Thursday’s disclosed this in a statement on Thursday titled ‘Update on today’s visit being 26th day of August 2021.’
The statement reads
The routine visit to Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was conducted today, and it went successfully.
Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu specifically requested for his kind regards and compliments to be conveyed to millions of his teeming supporters and well-wishers. He is deeply appreciative of your unwavering solidarity/support. He didn’t hesitate in requesting that you all continue to pray without season, because it is positively impacting.
However, today’s visit witnessed a fundamental change in the hitherto procedures conventionally adopted for conducting the visit.
We were initially unperturbed by the method now introduced by the DSS, but we feel compelled in the prevailing circumstance to make public our strange experience which borders on improper treatment of Lawyers in the course of conducting a Court Ordered visit to their Client who is undergoing trial.
Lawyers on this visit were searched in a manner akin to a situation where hardened criminals are being searched for possible incriminating substances/objects.
They were traumatized not only because they were inhumanly treated as criminals on investigation, but Lawyers were further dehumanized after this embarrassing and unwarranted frisking, by being allowed to wear only slippers, after being divested of their shoes, reading glasses and writing materials, to visit their Client.
Though, it readily called for immediate intervention of the Court seized of the matter because it is our right as clearly backed up by the Order of the Court, to visit Our Client on these specified dates and times, but subjecting Lawyers to inhuman treatment in the course of conducting a legitimate visit, is what we consider unjustified and unacceptable.
We cannot be subjected to any form of intimidation/harassment during subsequent visits to Our Client, because the alien style is only targeted at imputing fear in us, which action we shall resist within the confines of extant laws.
Our Client- Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is in strong spirit, and was fully briefed on this ill-treatment meted out to his Lawyers during the visit.
I encourage all and sundry to remain steadfast, focused, peaceful and law abiding, even in the face of this clear case of intimidation of Lawyers.
We shall get this infraction addressed by the Court in the fullness of time, as processes incidental thereto have been promptly initiated.
Note strongly that victory is assured, which can only be achieved by your maximum support, cooperation, and prayers.
Thank you all and remain hugely blessed .
Sign:
Ejiofor Ifeanyi, Esq.
Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Lead Counsel.
