…Says Allegations Are Nothing More Than Propaganda
On Saturday, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, criticised Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for accusing Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo of terrorist activities (Igboho).
Malami’s claims, according to Frank in an Abuja statement, were not only false, but also extremely selective and high-wired propaganda geared at gaining selfish political objectives.
He questioned why Malami, as the Federation’s chief legal officer, chose to have a demeaning press conference to address matters that were already being heard in Nigerian and Benin Republic courts of competent jurisdiction.
He claimed Malami was just trying to cover up the Federal Government’s illegal, ethnically prejudiced, and nepotistic arrest and trial of Kanu, the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Igboho, the Yoruba Nation Separatist Agitator.
He stated that the current administration’s impunity towards citizens is the same reason why certain zones of the country are clamoring to leave the Nigerian union.
While the Federal Government is furious with Kanu and Igboho over alleged terrorist activities, Frank, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, said the government has failed and neglected to arrest and prosecute Boko Haram terrorists, bandits, and their sponsors operating in the north.
He bemoaned the fact that, more than a month after handing over the identities of six Nigerian terrorist financiers to the Federal Government, the UAE has refused to investigate, arrest, and prosecute them due to their religious connections and the region of the country from which they hail.
According to him, the UAE has listed Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan, and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad as alleged financiers of terrorism from Nigeria.
He emphasized that neither Malami nor any Nigerian security agency had briefed the press or reported any type of Federal Government inquiry, arrest, or prosecution of those on the aforementioned list.
Frank said: “Is it not laughable that Malami has blamed Igboho for financing terrorism in the North and Kanu for the hijack of the #EndSARS protests and attendant mayhem unleashed in Lagos last year?”
He described the recent arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu at the Federal High Court, Abuja, when lawyers, media and prominent Nigerians were denied access to the court which consequently intimidated the Judge and where the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) assumed the role of complainant, prosecutor and judge in their own case as a charade and show of shame on the part of the Federal Government.
He added that , “Malami told reporters at the press conference that Nnamdi Kanu is being prosecuted for his statements that led to killings and destruction of property both in the South East and in Lagos but when Buhari incited killings and destruction of property in the North through his “dog and baboon will be soaked in blood…” statement in 2012, in reference to the 2015 general elections, who prosecuted him?”
He challenged Buhari and Malami to name members of the National Assembly they have accused of sponsoring Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho to prove the veracity of their claims just like the Government of the UAE has made public the names of those financing terrorism in their country, Nigeria and others.
He called on Malami in particular and the Muhammdu Buhari-led administration in general, to stop spreading hatred, causing division and attempting to instigate and provoke mutual distrust and animosity between the South West and the South East through lies and disinformation.
He called on the international community to take cognizance of the lip service being paid to the fight against terrorism in Nigeria by the Federation Government and the witch-hunt it has continued to unleash on members of the opposition political parties and individuals with dissenting opinion from the Southern part of the country like Kanu and Igboho.
He,however, called on Nigerians to dismiss Malami’s half-truths against Kanu and Igboho and to continue to demand for fairness, justice and equity as bonafide citizens.
He also called Nigerian leaders in the South to speak out and condemn Malami’s statement as they are capable of inciting violence in the country.
While also calling on the international community to disregard the pre-arranged outcome from the trial of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho due to the obviously unfair and hushed trial being conducted against them by the Federal Government.
