Lawyer and activist, Barrister Maxwell Opara, on Monday, faulted the Nigeria Police Force’s claim that a court order restrained the ongoing protest for the release of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking during the demonstration at the Berger axis of Abuja, Opara insisted that neither he nor the organisers had seen or received any such court order.
“We did not see any court order stopping this protest. What we know is that a court only said protesters should stay away from the Presidential Villa and the National Assembly. We respected that by leaving the Secretariat and the Three Arms Zone for them. So why are they still after us?” he asked.
Opara also accused the Federal Government of double standards, pointing out that while it negotiates with terrorists and bandits, it has continued to keep Kanu in custody despite multiple court rulings in his favour.
“You (Federal Government) are granting amnesty to terrorists and bandits, discussing and negotiating with non-state actors who have inflicted pain and destruction on the country, yet you refuse to free Kanu,” he said.
He further recalled, “One court judgment awarded ₦1 billion against the Federal Government of Nigeria for the continuous detention of Maxi Kanu, but that has not been obeyed.”
Confirming that some protest leaders had been arrested by security operatives, Opara maintained that the movement would not be intimidated.
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]