News

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

Published

10 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

Otuaro Pledges To Expand PAP Scholarship As Beneficiaries Bag Master’s Degrees From UK Varsities

Published

3 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has expressed his unwavering commitment to expanding the PAP scholarship scheme.

The PAP boss made the pledge at a graduation reception for nine students who were awarded foreign post-graduate scholarships by PAP in universities in the United Kingdom.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Igoniko Oduma, said the successful scholars are the first graduates in the offshore post-graduate scholarship deployment to UK institutions by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic session.

According to the statement, they graduated from the Anglia Ruskin University, University of Dundee and The University of Law with master’s degrees in cyber security, data science and engineering, law, construction and civil engineering management, project management, and ICT.

Otuaro disclosed in the statement that 711 undergraduate and post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries are expected to graduate from universities within Nigeria this year.

According to Otuaro, the expansion of the scholarship scheme is aimed at creating more opportunities for indigent students of Niger Delta extraction to access higher education with a view to closing the human capital development gap in the region.

Otuaro said it was for this reason he deployed 3800 beneficiaries in-country in the 2024-2025 academic year, and increased the figure to 3900 in the 2025-2026 academic session with 200 for foreign scholarships.

He said under his administration, 7700 students have been so far deployed for the PAP scholarship scheme within Nigeria in less than two years.

According to him, aince he took over, he has deployed 162 students from the region for post-graduate programmes in targeted disciplines in the UK universities.

According to him, this is in conformity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the Niger Delta, who has given unprecedented support to the PAP because of his sincere love for the area.

The PAP boss said, “Our decision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for the Niger Delta. We will continue to create more higher educational opportunities for students from indigent backgrounds in our region.

“We are also deepening the implementation of the programme’s mandate in informal education and other areas for the sustainable peace and socio-economic advancement of the region.”

Otuaro, who congratulated the master’s graduates on their successful graduation, stressed that they completed their programmes in record time which shows the seriousness they had put into their studies.

He said they have justified the Federal Government’s investment in their education with their successful graduation, and urged other beneficiaries not to be distracted in their academic pursuits.

“We congratulate these scholars on their successful graduation. It shows that they took their studies seriously. That is what we demand of every scholarship beneficiary, whether at the undergraduate or post-graduate level”, Otuaro said.

News

Okpebholo Declares Edo Business-friendly

Published

6 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on Friday declared the state as Edo business-friendly environment and ready to welcome any investor to the state.

The governor spoke when he played host to members of the South – South Coalition of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (COSSCIMA).

The governor, who received his guests through the Office of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, said his administration has provided the enabling environment for investors to promote their businesses.

The governor commended the COSSCIMA for deeming it fit to choose the stata as host to the annual general meeting of the body.

“It is not surprising that you pick the state as a choice because we have provided the enabling environment by investing in infrastructure and reducing insecurity to the barest minimum.

“So, we assured potential investors that the state is safe, secured for all to come and invest,” he stated.

Also speaking, Hon. Omoh Anabor, Commissioner for Business, Trade, and Investment, said that the state was ready to partner any firm.

Earlier in his address, President of COSSCIMA, Hon. Indutimi komonibo said, “The Edo State Governor is doing a great job.

He, however, pointed out that nonetheless reiterated, “No government can succeed without partnering with the organized private sector.”

“We seek collaboration wherever we go. We carry the emblem of national development. Investors are looking for where their business will thrive. We understand the language of the business.”

He stated that COSSCIMA membership cut across the six Chambers of Commerce that make up the South-South states of the federation.

News

Oba Of Benin Suspends Priest, Reaffirms Appointment Of Okao

Published

6 hours ago

December 5, 2025

Editor

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare the second, has suspended the traditional priest of Uniamen Village, Chief Sunday Sidney Enoma as the Ohen-Ovia of Unuamen for violating the custom and traditional of Benin.

The Monarch reaffirmed Chief Kingsley Igbinosa as the Okao (traditional head) of Unuamen Village, in Ovia North East local Government Area of Edo State.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Oba described the claim by the suspended Ohen of Unuamen that he is the one who usually installs the Okao of the village as baseless, unfounded and abominable.

The Benin Monarch noted that all Chieftaincy titles in Benin kingdom are conferred by the Oba.