The family of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has issued a statement announcing the immediate suspension of the services of his legal counsels. The decision was made by Kanu’s younger brother, Kanunta Kanu, and was revealed on Twitter on Thursday.
The two lawyers, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN and Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, have been dismissed due to their inability to gain access to their client, who is currently being detained at the Department of State Services (DSS) Headquarters in Abuja.
Kanunta Kanu also accused the lawyers of impeding the efforts of medical professionals who had been scheduled to attend to Nnamdi Kanu while in DSS custody.
In his tweet, Kanunta expressed his disappointment with the actions of the legal counsels. He said, “After Nnamdi Kanu’s case on 11th May 2023, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN has refused to see his client in DSS headquarters Abuja even after several messages from MNK to see him.”
Furthermore, Kanunta highlighted the lawyers’ refusal to allow medical doctors to examine Nnamdi Kanu on June 5th, despite being duly informed of the scheduled examination on June 2nd. Nnamdi Kanu himself had instructed them to inform his family to make the necessary arrangements.
Consequently, the family has decided to sever ties with both Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN and Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor as Nnamdi Kanu’s legal counsels.
“For those obvious reasons and many more, Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN and Bar. Ifeanyi Ejiofor are hereby sacked as Nnamdi Kanu’s Counsels,” Kanunta Kanu stated.
Appreciating the time and efforts of the legal team thus far, Kanunta requested them to promptly hand over all legal documents related to the case.
The sudden termination of the legal services for Nnamdi Kanu has raised questions about the future direction of his legal defense, as well as the impact it may have on his ongoing detention by the Department of State Services.
