Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has noted that the ruling of the United Nations Working Group was legally binding on the Federal Government.
The UN Working Group, in one of its opinions, had condemned the detainment of Kanu and had called for the IPOB leader’s release.
Ejimakor, in a tweet, noted that the ruling of the UN group was binding on Nigeria as he also called for Kanu’s release.
He tweeted on Tuesday, “The UN Working Group is a quasi-judicial body. Its Opinion/Ruling, such as was recently issued in favor of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is legally BINDING on Nigeria, because it is based on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Nigeria ratified in 1993. #FreeMNK.”
The IPOB had earlier commended the UN group for their directive, describing the development as a “landmark victory” for Biafrans worldwide.
In a statement on Sunday, the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said the IPOB hoped that Nigeria, as a member of the United Nations, would take heed and promptly obey and implement the directive to the letter.
The statement read in part, “We, the global and noble family of the IPOB under the supreme leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, hereby commend Attorney Bruce Fein for the professional job in regards to the recently issued United Nations opinion, condemning the extraordinary rendition of our leader and directing the Federal Government of Nigeria to release him unconditionally and to compensate him.
“In the same vein, we commend all those who quietly laboured and assisted in achieving this landmark victory. It is indeed a great milestone for Kanu, the IPOB and Biafrans worldwide.
“We also express our profound gratitude to the United Nations and its Working Group for their courage in reaching this decision and issuing an opinion that comports with the tenets of international laws.”
