A member of Nnamdi Kanu’s defense team, Barrister Christopher Chidera, has shed light on reasons behind Nnamdi Kanu’s decision to sack Ifeanyi Ejiofor as his counsel during his terrorism trial.
It will be recalled that Ejiofor was Kanu’s counsel in his trial before the Abuja Federal High Court until the IPOB leader decided to defend himself in the court presided by Justice James Omotosho.
Chidera, who is also a public affairs analyst, explained the reasons behind Kanu’s action in a statement on Tuesday.
He said, “As a legal practitioner and public affairs analyst committed to constitutional supremacy, fair hearing, and respect for court orders, I write on the circumstances surrounding the disengagement of Ifeanyi Ejiofor from Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team. With the appeal now before the Court of Appeal following conviction, the public should not be misled by distortions that conceal critical professional failures.”
Highlighting what he described as grave errors that prolonged Kanu’s illegal detention, Chidera said, “Mike Ozekhome served as lead counsel, with Ifeanyi Ejiofor as a key member of the team and personal attorney to Kanu. On 13 October 2022, the Court of Appeal delivered a discharge that finally terminated the criminal proceedings and possessed the legal incidents of an acquittal. It is a fundamental principle of Nigerian law that a civil stay of execution cannot override such a discharge.
“Despite this, the Federal Government, through Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, filed an irregular civil stay application. This application was entertained by the same court after it had become
