Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor has insisted that he remains the retained lawyer for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), despite a recent directive from the group’s jailed leader, Nnamdi Kanu, terminating his services.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ejiofor clarified that he voluntarily withdrew from representing Nnamdi Kanu personally in December 2023, nearly three years before Kanu’s latest directive from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
The senior lawyer maintained that since December 2023, he has not acted as Kanu’s personal counsel, family lawyer, or legal representative. He described any claims to the contrary as a deliberate distortion of facts.
Ejiofor emphasised that his law firm continues to hold a valid and continuous retainer as solicitors to IPOB as an organisation. He noted that the firm has successfully secured the discharge and acquittal of more than 200 alleged IPOB members in courts across Abuja, Ebonyi, and Abia states between December 2023 and 2025.
He explained that Kanu did not independently appoint the firm as solicitors to IPOB; his involvement was limited to personal legal representation, from which Ejiofor said he had already disengaged.
“IPOB, as an organisation, has today reaffirmed our standing as its solicitors and legal representatives. That professional relationship is founded upon a continuing mandate and cannot be retrospectively altered, invalidated, or otherwise dictated by its former leaders,” Ejiofor stated.
The lawyer also questioned the authenticity of communications purportedly issued by inmates from correctional facilities. He referenced the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, stressing that such correspondence must be properly authenticated by the officer in charge.
Kanu’s July 22 letter had formally terminated Ejiofor’s services, directing him to stop representing him, his family, or IPOB, cease public statements on their behalf, and withdraw from all pending matters. Kanu also warned against unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com