The Coalition of South East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora, CSEPNND, has reiterated its position that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, must be immediately extradited to Nigeria to face his trial over alleged treason.
The group also dismissed the claim by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, that neither the group nor its president, Prof. Madumere Chika was in existence.
In a statement signed by Emma Powerful, the Nnamdi Kanu led organisation had described the call for his repatriation by CSEPNND as laughable and an attempted blackmail, accusing the group of being a creation of the Department of State Services, DSS.
In reaction to IPOB’s claim of its nonexistence, CSEPNND revealed that its President, Prof. Madumere Chika, is not only a well known academic scholar with many academic works but has its headquarters in Awka, Anambra State.
In a statement by its National President, Prof. Madumere Chika and Mazi Anayo Uchemba, its National Secretary, CSEPNND said that IPOB’s claim that it was only a creation of the DSS was laughable.
CSEPNND said there was no human being bearing Emma Powerful anywhere in the whole world, challenged IPOB and its spokesman to a live press conference for identity revelation.
CSEPNND reiterated its position that Nnamdi Kanu is immediately extradited to Nigeria to face his trial over alleged treason.
“Let it be clear again, that we denounce Nnamdi Kanu and his terrorist group. Kanu and his bunch of misinformed youths cannot speak for or lead the Igbo nation. We reiterate our demand for the repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu to Nigeria to face his criminal trial,” it said.
“The pseudo-Emma Powerful, who has not been seen, sighted anywhere or known by any Igbo man, woman or any other person anywhere in the whole world, went further to deny the existence of our revered and famous president, Prof. Madumere Chika, who is not only recognized nationally but also internationally,” the statement read.
The group added: “We hasten to state here that the IPOB’s response through the nonexisting Emma Powerful is diversionary with intent to blackmail our highly treasured DSS and the Nigerian state from doing the needful on Mr Kanu’s repatriation.
“Ordinarily, we would not have dignified the acclaimed spokesman of the proscribed terrorist’ group with further response so as not to accord him and IPOB any form of legitimacy in the eyes of the reading public but for the purpose of some innocent readers who may fall to Emma Powerful’s concocted lies.”
“We are duly incorporated with all the relevant bodies in Nigeria and have been operating since 2014.
We are not surprised by their claims as we have noticed over time that it is the style of the proscribed IPOB to question the credibility or otherwise of anyone or group that speaks truth against them.”
“However, we wish to put on record that we are not a creation of DSS and cannot be. Rather, we are a creation of one Nigeria and good conscience. Also, we are a creation of Igbos who have paid their full dues in Nigeria and are pushing for better deals for their people,” CSEPNND explained.
“Apart from terrorism, kidnapping, extortion, armed robbery and the likes, what value has IPOB brought to the table in the South East?”
“We challenge Nnamdi Kanu and Emma Powerful to address a live press conference in Nigeria. Since they claim we are nonexistent, we challenge them to a live press conference on the same date with us.
“We are aware of their demands for identity of the village and family of our president, Prof. Madumere Chika. We are not unaware of these demands- the intention of the so-called Emma Powerful and his proscribed terrorist group is to attack our president and his family, and not because they are in doubt of his identity as they claimed in their response to our statement.
“Prof. Madumere is a renowned scholar with several academic records which are verifiable to his name and Nnamdi Kanu knows this.”
Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader is understood to be in the United Kingdom where he has been operating through Facebook live broadcasts and social media posts.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on September 18, 2017, labelled the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a terrorist organisation.
The court’s decision generated a lot of controversies among Nigerians and the Nnamdi Kanu-led group in 2018 fought to reverse the court order.
