US Congressmen's visit: IPOB names Ekwueme, Anyaoku, others negotiators

Leaders of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have stepped up preparations on the proposed visit of some United States (US) Congressmen to Nigeria who are on a fact-finding mission concerning the agitation for the Biafra State.
The IPOB leaders have, accordingly, named some elder statesmen as their negotiators with the American lawmakers.
The group, which rejected the Ohanaeze leadership as its representatives in the talks with the Congressmen, named Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku and constitutional lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, as its representatives.
Others are Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Archbishop Anthony Obinna and Gen. Alex Madiebo (rtd).
In a press statement, IPOB spokesmen, Mr. Emma Nmezu, and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, said that the elder statesmen were chosen based on their antecedents as “elders of proven integrity who will not compromise the interest of the people for personal gains.”
The statement, obtained by The AUTHORITY, read in part: “We chose them as credible elders who will speak the truth without being easily compromised. All over the world, fact-finders meet with people of impeccable pedigree and not political contractors like Ohanaeze and similar groups.”
IPOB explained that it decided to make public the names of the authorised individuals who could enter into any negotiation on its behalf following reports of attempts by some unauthorised and self-seeking individuals and groups to hijack the visit of the US Congressmen for their pecuniary motives.
The group urged the US Congress delegation to beware of impostors and ensure they only deal with the right persons.
Nmezu said: “It has come to the notice of IPOB that some selfish individuals who deliberately misconstrue our genuine intentions towards the restoration of Biafra are busy parading themselves as elders or custodians of our present agitation.
“Once again, we have been reliably informed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has once again hijacked the proposed visit of the US Congressmen to Biafraland thereby positioning themselves as the mouthpiece of IPOB which is blatantly false.
“We have not mandated this group called Ohanaeze to represent IPOB in any capacity. That US Congressmen are in Biafraland today is as a result of the hard work of IPOB all over the world in lobbying them.
“If anyone is concerned about the plight of Ndigbo they should initiate an action plan with the intention of addressing them, not waiting for the blood of Biafrans to be shed so they can emerge to pontificate on the way forward. IPOB would like the world to know that we have credible traditional rulers, elder statesmen and respectable Biafrans capable of representing IPOB at these talks with the Americans,” he said.
When The AUTHORITY contacted some of the eminent Nigerians on their nominations by IPOB to meet the US lawmakers, they confirmed hearing the news from other sources but were not forthcoming on whether they have accepted the offer or not.
At the time of filing this report, Chief Anyaoku had not responded to an email sent to him on the development.
Meanwhile, detained leader of IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has accused Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, of bias in the handling of his trial.
Kanu accordingly filed an appeal against the ruling of the trial court allowing prosecution witnesses to give evidence against him behind screens, through a private witness box.
A witness screen is a device stationed to cover a witness from being seen by the public in the courtroom.
The Biafran leader also filed a motion asking the trial court to stay proceedings on the matter pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.
In his 10-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion for stay of proceedings, the Biafran leader faulted the ruling, saying that the court sat on an appeal over its own ruling.
Kanu further contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to re-litigate on an issue that it had already decided.
The IPOB leader said: “The court has manifested a serious bias in the conduct of this trial, which is gravely impending the defendants’ constitutional rights to fair hearing/trial.”
In his notice of appeal filed on Tuesday, Kanu prayed the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the trial court on the use of screens by the prosecution witnesses and to also direct the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case to another judge of the Federal High Court.
The processes, including the notice of appeal and the motion for stay of proceedings filed by the Director of Radio Biafra, were served on the prosecution in the commencement of proceedings on Wednesday.
The trial judge adjourned the suit till April 5, 2016 for hearing of the motion for stay of proceedings.