The Deputy Head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s newly constituted 4th Directorate of State, Mazi Solomon Egbo, has defended the expulsion of former senior officials of the group, accusing them of betraying their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, and undermining efforts to secure his release.
Egbo said in a statement on Monday that the indefinite expulsions ordered by Kanu were “painful but necessary,” alleging that members of the dissolved 3rd Directorate of State committed repeated violations of the group’s constitution and code of conduct.
Recall Kanu had restructured the Directorate of State (DoS) where he made new appointments. The IPOB leader subsequently expelled the officials saying they betrayed the ideology of the group.
Supporting Kanu’s action, Egbo claimed the former officials abandoned Kanu during his detention, ignored directives concerning medical fundraising, attacked members of his legal team, spread false narratives, and attempted to seize control of the organisation.
“These individuals… have committed grave, repeated violations of the IPOB Code of Conduct and our Constitution,” Egbo said. “Their actions were not mere mistakes. They were deliberate, sustained, and aimed at undermining the freedom of our Supreme Leader and the very survival of our struggle.”
Among the allegations, Egbo accused the expelled officials of failing to provide “consistent legal support, no meaningful welfare for families, and no urgent medical intervention” while Kanu remained in custody.
He further alleged that when Kanu’s health deteriorated in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), the former leaders blocked fundraising initiatives that Kanu had authorised for his medical treatment.
“They countermanded that order, blocking or discouraging the lifeline Biafrans were rushing to provide. They played God with the life of the Supreme Leader,” he alleged.
The statement also accused the former leadership of undermining Kanu’s legal defence by attacking his lawyers and continuing to work with former counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor after Kanu had allegedly removed him from the legal team.
Egbo referenced the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on October 13, 2022, which discharged Kanu after finding that his extradition from Kenya to Nigeria was unlawful.
Quoting the appellate court, Egbo said: “In view of the fact that the trial court lacks jurisdiction to hear this case because the process of extradition of the appellant from Kenya to Nigeria was unlawful since due process was not followed, this appeal succeeds… Consequently, the appellant is therefore discharged.”
He also quoted the court as holding that, “The lower court thus has no jurisdiction… [Mr Kanu] is prohibited from being detained, tried or otherwise dealt with in Nigeria for… his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria… any Court in this country is divested of jurisdiction to entertain charges against [Mr Kanu].”
According to Egbo, rather than consolidating what he described as a landmark legal victory, the former officials allegedly promoted false claims blaming members of Kanu’s family for subsequent developments in the case.
The statement further accused the expelled officials of making “spurious allegations” against Kanu’s brothers, disregarding repeated directives from the detained IPOB leader, spreading what he described as defeatist claims that President Bola Tinubu would never release Kanu unless he renounced the Biafra agitation, and fabricating claims that two unnamed African countries advised them to abandon him.
Egbo also alleged that the former leaders attempted to hijack IPOB by removing officers appointed by Kanu, installing loyalists, altering the group’s oath of office, and intimidating individuals who publicly advocated Kanu’s release.
“Their pattern was designed to strip IPOB of discipline, spirit, and effectiveness, making it vulnerable to enemies and power grabbers,” he said.
He stressed that the expulsions “are indefinite and take immediate effect,” adding that those affected no longer represent IPOB.
“The expulsions are indefinite and take immediate effect. These individuals no longer speak for, represent, or act on behalf of IPOB or the Biafran cause,” the statement said.
Egbo called on IPOB members worldwide to rally behind the newly inaugurated 4th Directorate of State under Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ.
“Our focus remains unbreakable: the unconditional release of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the actualisation of Biafra,” he said.
(The Whistler)