Nnamdi Kanu/IPOB: 'African Commission moves against Buhari' - Risingsuntv

(Dateline, Berlin, March 2018):

In a landmark ruling on March 8, 2018, the African
Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) issued
a ruling against President Buhari to cease and desist from
taking any "further actions" against Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and
its members, pending when the Commission renders final
decision on a Complaint filed on behalf of Mazi Nnamdi
Kanu and IPOB.


The ruling, which the Commission called 'provisional
measures', emanated from a Complaint filed by Barrister
Aloy Ejimakor of Adulbert Legal Services on behalf of
Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB on December 14, 2017.

The Complaint placed three main issues for the
consideration of the Commission, to wit: Nnamdi Kanu's
trial, Operation Python Dance and its aftermaths in the
Southeast of Nigeria including the military invasion of
Nnamdi Kanu's family home in Umuahia, and declaration of
IPOB as a terrorist organization.


The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights,
which reports to the African Union (AU) is a quasi-judicial
body tasked with promoting and protecting human rights
and collective (peoples') rights throughout the African
continent as well as interpreting the African Charter on
Human and Peoples' Rights and adjudication of individual
complaints brought before the Commission against member
States.
Nigeria is a member State and has also ratified the African
Charter, which all together makes it subject to the
jurisdiction of ACHPR.

In the ruling, the Commission also states that it has
assumed jurisdiction to adjudicate the IPOB Complaint, and
gave President Buhari 15 days to respond with actions he
has taken to implement the provisional measures ordered by
the Commission.

On a rather ominous note, the Commission wrote that if the
allegations in the Complaint prove to be correct, they would
amount to gross violations of the African Charter "as well as
other regional and international human rights laws and
standards".


With this ruling and the expectation that Buhari is duty-
bound to implement it, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB and it's
members have been vindicated, at least as far as the
declaration that IPOB is a terrorist organization now
appears to be on hold, until such a time the Commission has
rendered its final decision.

The ruling which spanned three pages was addressed to
President Buhari; and it is accompanied by another five
pages of document containing analysis of the Complaint.


Going forward, we remain committed in our pursuit of
justice both within and outside Nigeria. We will not relent
until those responsible for the murder of hundreds of
peaceful agitators and the disappearance of our leader is
held to account before the comity of civilised nations.


Signed:
Mazi Chika Edoziem
Head of Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of
Biafra