FACT CHECK: Did Nnamdi Kanu Deny Being IPOB Leader?

A counsel to the federal government, Shuaibu Labaran, on Wednesday, January 19, told newsmen that Nnamdi Kanu “vehemently” denied being an IPOB member.

Shuaibu Labaran said,  “One of the charges suggesting that the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu is a member of IPOB and he vehemently denied being a member of IPOB".

But did Nnamdi Kanu deny being the leader/member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)? AllNews Nigeria checks.

A statement made available to AllNews Nigeria by  Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, one of Nnamdi Kanu's legal counsel, states that Kanu never denied being the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra  (IPOB).

He only denied the claim that IPOB was a terrorist group while taking his plea.

Excerpt of Ejiofor statement reads thus, "For the records, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never denied being the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra  (IPOB) while taking his plea, but only STOUTLY  DENIED THE FACT THAT IPOB IS A TERRORIST ORGANISATION AND THAT  BEING ITS LEADER IS AN OFFENCE, which position is well informed. 

"Members of the public should be well guided that the status of the black market order proscribing IPOB is a subject of Appeal in Appeal Number: APPEAL NO. CA/A/214/2018, pending before the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

"That being said, it is only laughable that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in their desperate but futile attempt to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it, brought a charge bordering on the status of IPOB, a subject matter of a competent Appeal, where issues have been joined with the same FGN.

"Therefore, be properly guided UmuChineke,  because we have sufficiently addressed the emptiness of that count an entire charge in our compelling Submissions before the Court, now adjourned to be heard on the 16th day of February 2022. 

"We do not wish to dwell further on this subject, but be rightly informed that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never denied being the Leader of IPOB while taking his plea yesterday".

Nnamdi Kanu is currently facing 15 amended charges bordering on terrorism. He pleaded not guilty to all 15 counts read to him on Wednesday.

Binta Nyako, the judge, fixed February 16 to hear an application by the defendant challenging the propriety of his trial as well as competence of the charge against him.