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IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor Urges Tinubu To Declare Benue Emergency
He cited Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he said “empowers the President to declare a State of Emergency where there is a breakdown of public order or imminent danger to life and property.”
Amid the intensifying violence in Benue State, a legal practitioner and public affairs analyst, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has issued a public statement urging President Bola Tinubu to invoke constitutional powers and declare a “state of emergency” to curb the ongoing security breakdown.
Ejiofor, who is also counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), described the situation in Benue as a “relentless and gruesome massacre of innocent civilians,” adding that “following the recent exoneration of Fulani herdsmen by the executive governor, Hyacinth Alia, it has become imperative for the Nigerian government under Tinubu to invoke its constitutional mandate to protect lives and preserve national security.” Travel guides for Nigeria
He cited Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which he said “empowers the President to declare a State of Emergency where there is a breakdown of public order or imminent danger to life and property.”
“Given the scale and persistence of the ongoing attacks – allegedly perpetrated by foreign militias infiltrating through the Cameroon border as reported by the Governor – this constitutional threshold has clearly been surpassed,” Ejiofor stated.
He warned against politicising the crisis, saying, “This is no time for political appeasement or partisan manoeuvring. The foremost duty of any government is the protection of its citizens and the defence of its territorial integrity. By absolving known actors and trivialising verified threats, the Benue State government risks eroding the very foundation of national security coordination.”
Calling for firm federal intervention, Ejiofor demanded that “the Federal Government must empower the Nigerian security apparatus with full operational autonomy to launch comprehensive operations aimed at identifying, isolating, and neutralising the foreign insurgents terrorising peaceful communities. These unprovoked assaults on the aboriginal people of Yelwata and surrounding villages must be confronted with a unified national resolve.”Travel guides for Nigeria
He also criticised Governor Alia’s handling of the crisis, remarking that “the Governor, as a former spiritual leader turned political figure, must recognise that in times of crisis, leadership demands constitutional fidelity, courage, and unequivocal action – not deflection or denial.”
“If the burden of political office has become too heavy, perhaps a return to the pulpit may better serve his conscience and calling,” he stated.
Decrying the human cost of the violence, he stressed that “the lives of Benue’s indigenous peoples must never be reduced to political bargaining chips. Their only ‘crime,’ it seems, is their ancestral heritage and legitimate claim to their homeland.”
Ejiofor concluded his statement with a solemn warning: “Nigeria stands at a crossroads. History will neither forget nor forgive those who remained silent or complicit in the face of a preventable genocide. The time for rhetorical posturing is over. The time for decisive constitutional action is now.”
The crisis in Benue state has led to global outrage.
Previously, the United Nations acknowledged that it is monitoring the ongoing massacre in Benue State.
This was disclosed by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. “We’re monitoring the situation,” he said.
“The Secretary-General condemns the killing of innocent civilians, including in Nigeria, and we hope that those responsible for this violence will be found and apprehended.”
This development comes amid growing outrage over the continued killings and the seeming inability of the government to halt the massacres.
In a related development, Amnesty International, in a strongly-worded statement, said: “The horrifying killing of over 100 people by gunmen that invaded Yelewata from late Friday into the early hours of Saturday shows the security measures government claims to be implementing in the state are not working.”
The human rights watchdog decried the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, warning that “the Nigerian authorities must immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice.”
President Tinubu has scheduled to visit on Wednesday after condemnations on his refusal to visit the state.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Naija News reports that Justice had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts levelled against him by the Federal Government.
The judge sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for count 1, 2, 4,5, and 6.
He also sentenced Kanu to 20 years forcount 3 without option of fine.
The Judge sentenced Kanu to five years in prison on count seven without option of fine.
Justice Omotosho ruled that he should not be kept in Kuje prison. He forfeited Nnamdi Kanu’s radio transmitter and barred him from access to social media.
More are still coming
The Federal Government has urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose the death sentence on the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, following his conviction on all seven terrorism counts.
The request was made on Thursday by the FG’s lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), shortly after Justice James Omotosho found Kanu guilty of all charges preferred against him.
Awomolo, addressing the court after the verdict, argued that the severity of Kanu’s actions merited the maximum penalty under the law.
The senior lawyer insisted that Kanu committed “many illegalities” and should not be treated with leniency.
Awomolo further reminded the court that four of the seven counts on which Kanu was convicted carry the death sentence under Nigeria’s terrorism laws.
He urged Justice Omotosho to take this into account in determining the appropriate punishment.
“It will not be considered justice that he is isolated and punished lightly in a country where we have Boko Haram, ISWAP, Lakurawa, et cetera,” he argued.
According to the prosecution, Kanu’s actions were as destabilising as those of other violent groups and should be treated with equal seriousness.
Awomolo also urged the judge to ensure that Kanu is kept in a secure correctional facility pending the court’s final pronouncement on sentencing.
He stressed the need to prevent any disruptions or security breaches involving the IPOB leader while the sentencing process is underway.
Kanu was earlier found guilty of inciting violence, ordering attacks on security personnel, calling for killings, and issuing threats capable of terrorising the public, all captured in broadcasts tendered as evidence by the prosecution.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has delivered his ruling in the case between the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and the Federal Government.
Naija News reports that the judgement was given in Nnamdi Kanu’s absence after the judge had ordered security operatives to kick him out of the court over his unruly behaviour.
Nnamdi Kanu had earlier stated that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja does not have the jurisdiction to try him.
The separatist, who has been in custody since 2021, faced seven terrorism-related charges bordering on alleged incitement, running an unlawful group, and acts threatening national security.
The IPOB leader contended that the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, under which he is being prosecuted, has been repealed.
He urged the court to strike out the charges, describing them as “disclosing no offence known to law” and therefore invalid.
Kanu also requested that the court nullify the “purported plea of not guilty” entered on his behalf, claiming it was obtained through deception and contrary to a Supreme Court ruling.
He further asked the court to set aside all subsequent proceedings and order his immediate release.
“My contention is very simple: this court lacks jurisdiction to try me,” he said.
Delivering ruling on Thursday, Justice Omotosho ruled that the court has the authority to preside over the Nnamdi Kanu case.
The judge also stated that the matter of extradition has been settled by the Supreme Court, and he ruled against Kanu in this regard.
On the issue of fairness in the hearing for Nnmadi Kanu, Omotosho ruled against the IPOB leader, stating that the court ensured he received a fair hearing.
On the defendant not entering his defence, Justice Omotosho said: “I begged the defendant passionately to enter his defence, but he remained obsolete. That shows that he chose to rest his case on the prosecution. Which is a gamble and a risky action.”
The court found Nnamdi Kanu guilty and convicted him of count 1 in the charges filed against him by the federal government.
The Judge said: “The court will rely on the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution. This court, therefore, finds that the prosecution has discharged Count 1 beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the defendant (Kanu) is hereby convicted in respect of Count 1.”
More judgement is being read and this report will be updated as it comes in…….
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