Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer to Nnamdi
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has broken silence on
police invasion of his residence in Anambra State on Monday.
Recall that a combined team of
police and military officers had burnt down Ejiofor’s residence in Oraifite,
Anambra State in the early hours of Monday and allegedly killed two people
while several others were injured.
Following the incident, the
police had claimed that IPOB members burnt two of its officers to death, hence
declaring Ejiofor wanted.
But in a video shared on Facebook
on Tuesday, Ejiofor wondered why police stormed his residence despite speaking
with the area police commander.
He claimed that some police
officers took away the corpses of those killed and burnt them somewhere.
He added that his mother was
gunned down and was presently receiving treatment at the hospital.
The IPOB lawyer alleged that a
particular businessman was behind the issue, even as he denied reports that
policemen were killed at his place.
He further called on
international organisations, stressing that he has been a target for defending
IPOB members in court, despite maintaining more than 17 years unbroken
relationship with the police hierarchy.
Narrating the incident, Ejiofor
said: “On Sunday being the first day of December 2019, I was called at about
8pm to 9pm by the DPO and he never passed any message to me.
“Then in the morning, at about
6am, I got a call from my elder brother that police have invaded my premises
led by the area commander himself. I requested to speak with the area commander
and he obliged which conversation was so recorded.
“I requested to know why they
were in my house because I wasn’t around. He said they came to arrest one of my
wards who participated in a local conflict. He demanded to see me and I said I
will be back around 10:30 in the morning. I told him I will come to see him at
the station when I am back.
“He said okay, but he emphasised
that time is of essence. That I should keep to time. Then I became worried,
because I came back on the 24th of November 2019 for my brother’s burial and I
have been around. I never had any issues with anybody, I never stepped out of
my house. When I came back around 10, I told my mother I want to go see the
area commander, but on a second thought I decided to go see my uncle who will
accompany me.
“When I left the house for my
uncle’s place, that served as a saving grace. We were on our way to the
commander’s office taking an unconventional way when I got a call from my
junior brother that the police were in my house and they opened fire on all living
object, including persons in my house.
“So, I was like someone came
about 6 in the morning, had a conversation with him on an offence I don’t even
know anything about and I promised him as a lawyer that I am going to be in his
office, then what happened in my house took me by surprise.
“I was confused about what was
going on. As I speak now, I am homeless. They have burnt down the house. Many
people who were running for safety were also killed.
“Over 20 person have been killed.
My mum was gunned, and now receiving treatment. What is my offence for being
IPOB lawyer?
“I decided to take refuge within
the neighbourhood. The reports kept coming in as to the atrocities they were
committing in my house including roping people around the area. At the end, they
took away the bodies of those they killed in my house in their own van to a
place along Onitsha-Owerri express road, burnt all of them and left. That is
all I know that transpired.
“Later I was told that about four
persons had been shot in his premises and the entire house set ablaze by the
police.
“I’ve committed no offence known
to law. They are actually interested in getting me out of the way. They are
interested in killing me because they have seen me as a thorn in their flesh.
“Because I am defending members
of IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu. Any place they arrest any IPOB member, they will
always see me there. And I have defeated them in virtual all of the cases. The
terrorism tag on IPOB is being challenged at the court of appeal and we are
awaiting judgement.
“If someone had filed a complaint
against him, it was not enough for the police to come to his house with force.
“The police could have left me an
invitation letter, and even if I refused to show up, they know how to get me.”
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