Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015 — 15
Arrested Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kalu granted bail Igbo
World Assembly, World Igbo Congress condemn arrest
the pirate radio station was over- Ndigbo to continue angling for the By Emeka Aginam, Chidi made clear. “While we are yet to know the reaching its bounds, others Republic of Biafra.” Nkwopara & Francis Igata
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NUGU—DIRECTOR OF Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kalu,who was arrested at Golden Tulip Hotel in Lagos by the Department of State Service,DSS, after he returned from the United Kingdom has been granted bail by the Abuja Municipal Council Magistrate court where he was secretly arraigned by the DSS. He is, however, yet to fulfil his bail conditions. According to the Indigenous People of Biafra’s lawyer, Mr. Egechukwu Obetta, “Nnamdi was put in the same cell with terrorists. He has a health challenge which is life threatening. He is sensitive to delicacies. He told us that he will never eat any food served by the Federal Government of Nigeria.“ But midway into Vanguard's chat with the lawyer, a call came in indicating that Kalu has been granted bail in the sum of N2 million or with surety of N2 million with a civil servant of grade level 16. “The DSS secretly arraigned him before the magistrate's court and he was granted bail. He is, however, yet to meet the bail conditions and that is holding him still in detention. “Last week, the Afenifere threatened to secede, but nobody was vilified. I am talking about the recent Olu Falae’s kidnap case. The militants in the Niger Delta have done same and at all times, the political gladiators have appealed to the FG to douse the tension instead of using political brigandage and executive lawlessness.” Meantime, the arrest of Nnamdi Kalu by the Directorate of State Security, DSS, has continued to elicit diverse opinions. The apex Igbo organization in Diaspora, Igbo World Assembly, IWA, condemned the arrest of the Director of Radio Biafra, weekend, by the Nigeria secret police, the Department of State Services, DSS. The President of the Diaspora Igbo group in a telephone interview with Vanguard, yesterday, said that every Nigerian has freedom of speech, adding that the Nigerian government should tell the whole world the offence Kanu hadcommitted. Similarly, the World Igbo Congress, WIC, has condemned the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the Federal Government should explain the reasons for his arrest. The Public Relations Officer of WIC, Jimmy Asiegbu told Vanguard, yesterday, in a telephone interview that the reasons for the arrest should be C M Y K
reasons for his arrest, we pray that it does not have anything to do with his exercising his constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and association. We call on the Federal Government to explain the reasons for his arrest and allow due process to take its course,” Asiegbu noted. In Imo State, while some citizens were of the opinion that
commended Kalu for unearthing a number of things that were largely unknown to the public. Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday, on the issue, Mr. Okorie Kalu, described Mr. Nnamdi Kalu as “a freedom fighter.” In his considered opinion, “the arrest of the freedom fighter by operatives of the DSS, would rather strengthen the resolve of
SIGNING: From left, Tony Duncan, International Director, Sales, Affordable Building Concept International Ltd; Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State; Igwe Cyril Enweze, Chairman, ANSIPPA during the signing of MoU for the construction of 10,000 houses, in Anambra State, yesterday.
Abia Tribunal concludes hearing on Otti's petition By Anayo Okoli
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MUAHIA—THE Abia Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Umuahia, yesterday, concluded hearing on the petition filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Alex Otti and reserved ruling sine die. Dr. Otti and his party, APGA in their petition, are challenging the declaration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP as the winner of the April governorship election. All the parties in the petition adopted their final written addresses, yesterday. Meanwhile, in his oral application before adopting his final written address, counsel to Governor Ikpeazu, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), raised objections on the filing of three separate addresses of 40 pages each by the petitioners. Olanipekun said that the Electoral Act allowed parties in election petitions to file only one address of 40 pages, and argued that the petitioner's counsel could adopt only one out of the addresses. Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), supported Olanipekun’s position. But counsel to the petitioner, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), faulted the respondent's arguments, saying that the argument ‘’does not stand for justice.”
He advised the Federal Government against tampering with Kalu’s cherished freedom, adding that it was best for the government to avoid doing anything that would heat up the polity. While denying that he had blood relationship with the embattled citizen, Mr. Kalu also said that “nobody can destroy the Biafran spirit.”
MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENT:
Abia APC chieftain supports Enelamah
By Ugochukwu Alaribe
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BA—A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, Chief Offor Okorie has urged the three senators representing the state at the Senate and members of the party to support the state’s ministerial nominee, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, describing him as an accomplished person. Okorie, who is the State Auditor of the party, in a chat with Vanguard, said Enelamah is the person who will help actualize President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda. “We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah who is an accomplished technocrat. I have no doubt he will represent Abia well in the federal cabinet, " he said.