Police declare Kanu’s lawyer wanted over death of cops

Police in Anambra State have declared Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu wanted.

The Commissioner of Police, John Abang disclosed this in a press conference in Awka on Tuesday.

He said the declaration of the lawyer and his cohorts wanted, was in connection with the alleged brutal murder of two Police officers in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday.

He said, “I’ll like Nigerians to know that Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor (a member of the proscribed IPOB) has been declared wanted.

“I’ll seek the cooperation of law abiding Nigerians, East, West, North and South that wherever they find this individual, they should report to the nearest Police Station for possible arrest and prosecution based on the rules and laws of Nigeria.”

Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, had disclosed that two Police officers were killed by the suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts in the incident.

He said, “On the 2/12/2019 at about 11:30 am, there was a formal complaint against One Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor ‘m’ (a member of the proscribed IPOB) in Oraifite on alleged case of abduction, assault occasioning harm and malicious damage to property.

“Following the report, Police Patrol teams led by the Area Commander, Oraifite ACP Oliver Abbey mobilised and rushed to the scene in order to arrest the suspect who declined Police invitation.

“However, as soon as Police arrived the house, armed men suspected to be IPOB members descended on the Police, set ablaze one Patrol vehicle and attacked them with rifles and machetes.

“As a result of the attack, two Police officers whose identities are being withheld were killed by the suspected IPOB members while others were inflicted with machete cuts.

“The injured personnels were rushed to the Hospital for medical attention and are presently receiving treatment.

“Consequently, the Command deployed reinforcements from the State Headquarters comprising of PMF, SARS and Special Anti Cult Units in conjunction with the Army/other Sister agencies who cordoned off the area in order to fish out the culprits,while Joint patrol are still ongoing in the town to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

“Some arrests were made and the Commissioner of Police CP John Abang who is on his way to the scene has vowed to bring perpetrators of this dastardly act to justice.”

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the police of setting on fire the home of Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu in Oraifite, Anambra State.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group wondered why the Police would go further to raze the lawyer’s home even after killing two unarmed and innocent civilians.

It explained that the careleseness of the police in handling the petrol they used to drench Barr. Ejiofor’s home and nearby businesses before setting them on fire that trailed back, leading to the fire that gutted their van.

The statement partly read, “The unprovoked Nigeria police and army invasion of the home of our lawyer Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor barely four days after the painful burial of his senior brother is proof that those running Nigeria have descended into the abyss of iniquity from which they may never recover.

“Not even during the darkest days of Abacha’s dictatorship did anyone witness such brazen intimidation of a legal counsel or the attempted assassination of a defence counsel in a high profile case.

“It is the golden rule of every legal system under the Sun that defence counsels are not harrassed, intimidated or killed but it seems nothing is sacrosanct in the present circumstance.

“We don’t expect the roundly docile and cowardly Nigeria Bar Association or their impotent and subdued National Judicial Council to rise up in condemnation of this contemptuous behaviour by Aso Rock in this latest attempt to kill Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor.

“This level of dictatorial impunity against the rule of law, judicial process and natural justice must not be condoned by any right thinking person.

The group described the statement issued by the Police as self-incriminating ladden with blatant lies, falsehood and deception.