The judicial persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which the British and Nigerian governments would rather deceive themselves with by referring t...
The judicial persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which the British and Nigerian governments would rather deceive themselves with by referring to it as a trial or a prosecution, has generated a lot of interest and attention all over the world. One of the interesting things about the so-called trial and sentencing is its lack of basis.
This baselessness is predicated on the fact that the law upon which the Nigerian government anchored its charges had long been abrogated, that is, repealed. This abrogation has naturally led the Nigerian government and its Judiciary to the present judicial gymnastics and macabre dance, which translates to nothing more than A Dance of Shame in the market.
Recall that there was this criminal collaboration and operation by a team of international intelligence agencies, including CIA, MOSSAD, M16, and Nigeria's MIA, in which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped in Kenya, and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria. With this criminal operation that amounted to lawlessness and impudence, the government automatically lost the basis for any prosecution, which the UN working committee unequivocally stated, and even went on to add that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should not only be released immediately and unconditionally, but that monetary compensation be paid to him.
Soon after, the Appeal Court, the penultimate Supreme Court in Nigeria, gave a well-considered Judgement in the same case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, where it emphatically stated that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was discharged, as he had no case to answer. (Many people had argued that the Appeal Court did not mention the acquittal. But since he had no case to answer, there was nothing to acquit him of, and so was DISCHARGED, to go home.
Like the UN Working Committee, the Appeal Court also stated that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should be released immediately, that monetary compensation should be paid to him, and most importantly, that no court in Nigeria or elsewhere has the competency to try him.
Upon this valid and unambiguous pronouncement, the Federal government of Nigeria remained adamant in keeping Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Leader of IPOB, in DSS custody, instead of releasing him, as ordered by the Appeal Court, and seeking re-arrest (if need be).
The refusal of the Nigerian Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu despite the Appeal Court Order, but rather to resort to the aberration called Stay of Execution, which is never known in criminal prosecution, was the first point of questionable intent in the so-called prosecution. Those who held this view of the intention's questionable validity have since been vindicated (proven right), as the Nigerian government has been scampering from one insubstantiable claim to another.
They were mending their charges from rebellion to mutiny to sedition, or treason, or secession, or, as they came out with the latest, terrorism. All these go to confirm that they were aiming at a particular destination.
But the ancient Biafran saying that "if a man buries himself, his one hand or foot must stick out" is quite conspicuous in the case of Justice James Omotosho, who was apparently assigned the job of bringing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to this ultimate destination. Justice Omotosho initially intended to conduct a secret trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but was vehemently opposed by the world due to the outrage the plan drew.
Was it not curious that the flimsy excuse of ensuring the safety of the DSS officials could be provided as a justification for using masquerades (masked men) as witnesses, whereas, on every other day of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's appearance in court, the same DSS would be acting with impudence and brigandage concerning Mazi Nnamdi Kanu? At those times when they were throwing themselves about, didn't they need the safety that Justice Omotosho has been using as an excuse to allow masquerades to act as witnesses in court?
What does anybody think Justice Omotosho considered the DSS facility the best place to remand any accused person, rather than the correctional centre?
Why did the Presidency, the Judiciary, and the Nigerian Medical Association collaborate to forge reports to deny Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appropriate medical attention? Is it necessary to point out the silence of the Nigerian Bar Association in all the judicial absurdity in the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which, for all intents and purposes, amounts to tacit collaboration, support, or approval?
Has it occurred to the world that there has been a deafening silence since Mazi Nnamdi Kanu requested to be told the law under which he is being tried? The fact that the law under which Mazi Nnamdi is purportedly tried and sentenced had long been abrogated, that is, repealed, renders any trial under such a non-existent law a nullity. This explains why the answer to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's question is complicated for Justice Omotosho and the Government's propagandists to provide.
Why was Justice Omotosho insisting, and even pleading, that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu must present his defence, even though the law under which he is being tried has not been specified? Shouldn't the proper procedures be followed first? Most concerning, and arguably the most alarming aspect of this judicial situation, is Justice Omotosho's order that the judgment must be delivered by a specified deadline, despite no written address being submitted upon which the judgment could be based.
With all that has been stated above, what will a rational human being naturally conclude? Of course, there is no other reasonable conclusion to draw except that, like Nigerian elections, the results are already ready before election day. Likewise, as can be seen both in the oral and body language of Justice Omotosho, (at the risk of being regarded as prejudicial), he only tried to goad Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to a Preconceived, Premeditated, and Predetermined Judgement, which is at best, to spend the rest of his life in jail, or at worst, to face the hangman.
Let it not be forgotten that the DEMAND of BIAFRANS remains simple and straightforward. That DEMAND is a #UN_supervised #REFERENDUM.
REFERENDUM is a democratic process that involves voting, and not war.
The earlier British and Nigerian governments understand and align with this incontrovertible truth, the better for everyone.
Written by
Mmadụ Awụchukwu
For
Lagos State Media Team
No comments