A former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume (SAN), would join the team challenging the proscription of IPOB in court, the legal team of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra has recently announced.
According to the leader of the legal team, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Mike Ozekhome remains the only Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the defence team against treason charges before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Ejiofor’s explanation was contained in a statement titled: “Clarification of information on the legal team of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Re: Inclusion of Chief Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN),” released Monday night.
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He said, “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 counts 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.
Thirdly, any instruction to engage any lawyer whatsoever to join in the legal team representing either Onyendu or IPOB in cases pending in court must come from Onyendu himself and not from any other person whatsoever. Onyendu has been particularly enthused by and appreciative of the quality of advocacy demonstrated by Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN), in the conduct of proceedings at the Federal High Court. He has implicit confidence in the present formidable legal team defending him. Accordingly, he has no need whatsoever to tinker with the idea or consider the possibility of engaging another senior lawyer in his defence, presently or in the foreseeable future.