By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group seeking independence from Nigeria over alleged marginalization, says he is ready to seek negotiations with the Federal Government, relying on section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
Nnamdi Kanu who has been in detention since 2021 after his arrest in Kenya has repeatedly claimed innocent of terrorism and treasonable felony for which he is being tried.
Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act under which the Abia-born activist is seeking negotiation states “In any Proceeding In the court, the court may promote reconciliation among parties thereto and encourage and facilitate the amicable settlement thereof”.
Speaking in the open court through his lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor on Wednesday, Kanu who also holds a British citizenship bared his mind to the court after he moved two applications brought before the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako.
The first application is to move form 49 and an application objecting to the jurisdiction of the court.
Ejimakor said if the applications are denied they will move for the implementation of section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, enabling Kanu to negotiate with the government.
In his response however, counsel to the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, told the court that as a representative of the government, he (Awomolo) had earlier informed the defendant that he does not have the powers to negotiate.
He said the fiat given to him does not empower him to negotiate but only act as a counsel.
He instead directed the defendant to approach the Attorney General of the federation.
Kanu, who arrived in court in the presence of his lawyers on Wednesday, also spoke on the killings in the South-East.
He insisted he was all for peace, and had no hand in the murder of some soldiers in Abia State a few weeks ago.
“I condemn in its entirety all of the killings, because IPOB was founded on a non-violent principle, and we maintain that stand. And some of these soldiers, we were told are also our people, and his family is in mourning right now”.
