Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has hired a new lawyer Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume (SAN) to prosecute the pending appeal challenging the proscription of IPOB.
One of Mr Kanu’s lawyers Aloy Ejimakor announced the latest development on Monday.
“Just exited from a groundbreaking visitation with Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It was groundbreaking because we covered many new grounds, including the addition of Chukwuma Machukwu Umeh (SAN) to the Legal Team. Onyendu sends his love and felicitation to all his true followers,” he said on social media.
Another lawyer of Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, clarified that Machukwu-Ume, a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice in Imo State, was not joining to defend Kanu.
The IPOB leader, who is standing trial before Justice Binta Nyako over charges bordering on alleged terrorism and treasonable felony, had earlier this year unveiled Mike Ozekhome (SAN) as the leader of his defence team.
Commenting on Machukwu-Ume’s addition, Mr Ejiofor said on Monday night, “My attention has been called tonight to the information making the rounds that Chief Chukwuma Machukwu Ume, SAN, has been included in the legal team defending our indefatigable client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in the 15-count amended charge preferred against him at the Federal High Court, Abuja. This information has generated effusive commentary of a diverse nature making it expedient for me to say a few words by way of clarification.
“Firstly, I say straight away that the information, in actual fact, is misinformation. No SAN, apart from Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), is in the legal team defending Onyendu in the aforesaid pending criminal matter.
“Secondly, Chief Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN), on the instruction of Onyendu, was introduced into the already existing IPOB legal team, ably headed by my good self, to prosecute the pending appeal challenging the Proscription of IPOB. The said appeal is pending at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. This appeal and the 15-count Amended Charge pending at the Federal High Court, Abuja, are entirely two different cases.”
