June 19, (THEWILL)- The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he will, under section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, seek negotiations with the Federal Government.
Speaking through Alloy Ejimakor, his lead counsel, Kanu made this known on Wednesday after he moved two applications brought before the court.
The first application is to move form 49 and an application objecting to the jurisdiction of the court.
Ejimakor said if the applications are denied they will move for the implementation of section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act states: “In any proceeding in the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”.
In his response, counsel to the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, said he lacked the powers to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government as the fiat given to him did not empower him to negotiate. He, therefore, urged Kanu to approach the Attorney General of the Federation.
In her reply, Justice Binta Nyako said the court was not a solicitor but to only hear cases.
The IPOB leader, who is being tried on terrorism-related charges by the Federal Government of Nigeria, has been in the detention facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 27, 2021, when he was extradited to Nigeria after he was re-arrested in Kenya on June 19, 2021.
Meanwhile, the detained IPOB leader has condemned the killing of soldiers in Abia State as well as killings in the South East.
Speaking with newsmen in the court on Wednesday, Kanu said, “I condemn in its entirety all of the killings because IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle, and we maintain that stand. And some of these soldiers, we were told, are also our people and their families are in mourning right now.
“So, I condemn all the killings. I don’t want that. We are fighting for freedom, so how can we want violence? We want people to be free. We have suffered a lot in Africa, from slavery in Arabia, Europe and now slavery in America.
“This is when to focus on this continent and be what God wants us to be so that they will know that we know what we are doing.”
