News

Lawyer Alleges Multiple Assassination Attempts For Defending Biafran Agitators, Blames Ekpa For IPOB Woes

Published

8 months ago

February 5, 2025

A human rights lawyer and leading counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has disclosed that he has survived multiple assassination attempts by both state and non-state actors due to his advocacy for the group.

Ejiofor, a Knight of St. Christopher, said he survived the attacks while defending IPOB agitators, specifically on December 2, 2019; June 6, 2021; and September 21, 2021.

He stated this while speaking to journalists after his 50th birthday celebration in Asaba, Delta State, explaining that the threats began after he accepted a legal brief from the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in 2015, a case that many senior lawyers reportedly declined out of fear.

He said, “I accepted the legal brief pro bono because I found out that they were wrongfully arresting the agitators and locking them up for no just cause. It is not a crime for one to express his displeasure legally when things are not going the way it ought to.

“Kanu brought me in and asked me to discuss my terms. I told him that since he had sacrificed himself for the good of the Igbo cause, I would defend the same cause on a pro bono basis. So, in April 2017, I secured his release from detention.

“However, in September of that year, state actors invaded his home, killing many people around the compound before he narrowly escaped the country. After Kanu’s escape, I became the next target.

“On December 2, 2019, at the instigation of someone from my hometown in Oraifite, who acts as a ‘thin god,’ they launched a deadly attack on me at my house. The second attack on my life on June 6, 2021, was even bloodier, resulting in the killing of my assistant, whose body was taken away by the assailants. The case is still in court and the matter came up in court recently.

“The third attack on me in September 2021 saw my car riddled with bullets, but God saved me. By His special grace, I am alive today to celebrate my 50th birthday and I will forever remain grateful to the Almighty.”

On what has become the current state of IPOB and the struggle, the lawyer stated that the activities of the Finland-based Simon Ekpa gave credence to the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment affirming IPOB as a terrorist organisation.

Ejiofor insisted that Ekpa destroyed and criminalised the struggle for Biafra, adding that before now, the average person believed in the struggle for Biafra’s independence, but today, trust and confidence in the movement have declined, due to the criminal activities of the infiltrators.

He averred that Ekpa’s activities after the arrest of Kanu negatively influenced the public perception of IPOB, adding that between 2015 to 2018, every youth or reasonable Igbo person was eager to adorn IPOB regalia and anyone who could not do so, saw himself as not belonging to the Igbo struggle, but today, the reverse is the case because of the criminal activities of those who have infiltrated the struggle.

He said, “I have had the privilege of reading parts of the Court of Appeal judgment affirming IPOB as a terrorist organisation recently. I heard the observation made by one of the justices. If I may summarise, he said the concept which established IPOB was accepted by all Igbos, but in the course of the struggle, some criminal elements hijacked the process and turned it into a criminal and violent organisation.

“It was sweet, that was exactly what compelled me to get involved by defending them pro bono, because I asked, ‘Why is the government arresting them for seeking to have their state?’ which is not a crime. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the activities of Simon Ekpa.

“When he started, I fought him in the media and went to court with him. The case is still in court. I was shouting that this man was a fraudster, and most people started attacking me, calling me a betrayal.

“Ekpa took advantage of the situation that presented itself at the time and led our people into committing crimes, acts of terrorism, kidnapping, killings, raping, and trafficking in human parts. That changed the entire orientation of the movement. It took time to explain to the average Igbo person that Ekpa was not speaking for them.

“Today, some have started realising that he caused more harm to the struggle and the entire Igbo land. Due to the situation, he recruited many IPOB members and Igbo youths and used them to commit crimes and the public then erroneously believed that the IPOB was committing these heinous acts.

“When you arrest those Ekpa criminal elements, they will say they are IPOB members. We must make a distinction between IPOB and Ekpa and his Biafra in exile group.

“Today, if a referendum is conducted, I don’t think any Igbo man would be happy to vote for the state of Biafra because of the atrocities Ekpa committed against them. How can you claim to be fighting for your people’s freedom while you are killing and kidnapping them? Ekpa destroyed the IPOB concept and implanted his criminal concept among his followers.”

He further averred that judging by Ekpa’s actions; it will be difficult to convince the court that IPOB is not a terrorist organisation, stating that Ekpa’s actions justify the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of IPOB as a violent and terrorist organisation.
(PUNCH)

News

BREAKING: Gov Fubara Dissolves Rivers Pension Board

Published

10 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has dissolved the State Pensions Board with immediate effect.

Rivers State Head of Service Mrs Inyingi Brown made this announcement on Friday in Port Harcourt.

According to the governor, the office of the State Accountant General will handle the functions of the board until a new one is constituted.

News

FAAN Launches Cashless Payment System Across Airports

Published

45 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has launched the cashless system of payment across all airports.

“FAAN in partnership with Paystack, is proud to announce the roll out of OPERATION GO CASHLESS, a cashless contactless payment solution across all airports beginning with Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja,” the agency said in a communique on Thursday.

Effective September 29, 2025, all payments at FAAN’s revenue points, including airport Access Gates, Car Parks, FAAN VIP and Protocol Lounges will go cashless which means the agency will be phasing out the collection of cash at these points.

FAAN added that travelers and airport users will now enjoy fast and seamless services by using a secure contactless payment option.

This initiative, it stated, is a response to the growing demand for safe, modern, and transparent payment systems while ensuring Nigeria’s airports remain aligned with global digital trends.

By reducing reliance on cash, FAAN said it aims to enhance efficiency, improve revenue assurance, and deliver a better customer experience at our airports.

To ease the transition, trained brand ambassadors have been deployed at access gates and around the terminals to guide users, assist with onboarding, provide demonstrations, and answer questions they may have.

In addition, passengers have been directed to obtain a FAAN Go Cashless Card at any airport access gate in Lagos and Abuja.

After collection, users are encouraged to activate and fund their cards immediately by visiting www.gocashless. faan.gov.ng.

FAAN added that it remains committed to continuous improvement and will expand this cashless policy to other airports nationwide in phases.

For inquiries, airport users have also been advised to contact FAAN’s support line at 0700 CBS FAAN (0700 227 3226) or email the agency at gocashlesssupport@faan.gov.ng.

News

Full List: Top 10 Manufacturing Nations

Published

55 minutes ago

September 26, 2025

Editor

Industrial production remains a cornerstone of the global economy and it serves as a key indicator of a nation’s economic capacity and technological advancement.

The following list presents the top ten manufacturing nations ranked by the latest available data for Manufacturing Value Added (MVA), a metric that reflects the net output of the sector after accounting for intermediate inputs.

1. China

According to the World Bank, China tops the list when it comes to manufacturing.

The country makes up about 18% of the total global manufacturing output, which adds a total value of nearly $4.66 trillion to the world economy.

The main exports from China comprise consumer goods like textiles, electronics, and garments.

2. United States

The U.S. used to have the world’s largest manufacturing sector until it was overtaken by China in 2010.

Today, the U.S. is still significantly behind China, which leads the world by a wide margin.

The country accounts for roughly 9.5% of global manufacturing, and its output is valued at almost $2.5 trillion.

American production includes automobiles, chemical products, food products, military equipment, and aircraft.

3. Japan

Japan comes in third and provides approximately 4.0% of the world’s total manufacturing output.

Japan produced a little over $1.05 trillion from manufacturing in 2023.

The country is famous for manufactured exports, including vehicles, computer parts, electronics, and chemicals.

4. Germany

Germany is among the leading European manufacturing nations, with about $839 billion coming from this sector.

Well known for motor vehicle exports, electrical machinery, and manufactured metals, the country accounts for approximately 3.2% of global manufacturing.

5. India

Although it may be better known for the I.T. workforce or customer service centers, India also has a major share of manufacturing output, accounting for around 1.8% of global manufacturing output.

The country gives an output value of roughly $461 billion. It’s mostly known for agricultural products, textiles, engineering goods, leather products, and chemicals.

6. South Korea

South Korea accounts for about 1.6% of global manufacturing, and its output value is around $416 billion.

Manufacturing represents approximately 24% of the entire country’s national output. Significant exports from South Korea include technological products, automobiles, petroleum, and machinery.

7. Mexico

Mexico accounts for around 1.4% of global manufacturing output, enough to generate a value of $359 billion. Mexican exports are mineral fuels, lubricants, food, transport equipment, and machinery.

8. Italy

Italy ranks 8th on the list of manufacturing countries, and its economic structure relies heavily on manufacturing and industrialization.

The output value of Italy’s manufacturing industry amounts to approximately $354 billion, and the country’s primary exports include metal products, clothing and footwear, vehicles, and chemicals.

9. France

France contributes approximately $297 billion in manufacturing output to the global economy, accounting for 1.1% of the total global manufacturing output.

Its leading exports include agricultural products, machinery, aircraft, and hydrocarbon products.

10. Brazil

Brazil ranks 10th among the world’s top manufacturing countries, contributing approximately $290 billion to global manufacturing.

This accounts for about 1.1% of the global total. Brazil’s manufacturing sector is diverse, with major exports including food products, automobiles, aircraft, machinery, and petroleum-based goods.

Meanwhile the highest-ranked African nations by manufacturing output, such as Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco and South Africa, are positioned outside the global top 25.

According to UNIDO, Africa’s combined Manufacturing Value Added (MVA) constitutes a small single-digit percentage of the world total, with recent figures showing it at 2% of global MVA