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BRGIE drags Nigerian govt to AU over Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, Biafra referedum
Biafra Republic Government In Exile, BRGIE, has petitioned the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, an organ of the African Union in Banjul, Gambia, over the continued detention by the Nigerian government of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB and the declaration of the Restoration of independence state of Biafra.
Jonathan Levy, a BRGIE attorney and international legal consultant, made this known in a statement he issued on Friday during an online international press briefing.
In the letter, BRGIE, headed by Simon Ekpa, requested that the Commission appoint a Special Rapporteur to address alleged economic and human rights abuses in the Southeastern region.
BRGIE demands rectification of the ongoing Biafra Self Referendum to avoid the calamity that may befall Nigeria.
The Commission acknowledged the petition in a letter dated May 23, 2024, addressed to BRGIE by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the ACHPR) in Banjul, Gambia.
“The Commission is asked to take jurisdiction over the matter of Biafra on an urgent basis owing to the state of near armed conflict in the region; the BRGIE Sit at Home civil disobedience campaign and the continued unlawful detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and pro-Biafra supporters. The BRGIE also informed the Commission of the ongoing Biafra Referendum, due to conclude at the end of November 2024, which is expected to result in the declaration of the restoration of Biafra’s independence and the need for a swift governance transition.
“The BRGIE has advised the Commission and Nigeria that despite its best efforts to prevent civil strife and bloodshed, the legitimate rights of the Biafran people to self-determination shall no longer be
thwarted by Nigeria’s security operatives.
Recall that BRGIE, in a statement on May 8, condemned the alleged attack on the Igga community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by security operatives, where several persons were reported killed.
The statement followed a report by an online news platform alleging that a combined security operatives led by the Nigeria Police Force burnt down the community, killing some villagers.
According to the report, the attack followed the killing of two policemen and three members of the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch Group by hoodlums in the area.
Reacting, BRGIE, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Prime Minister, Ekpa, described the development as an act of terrorism and human rights abuses.
This decision came hours after the President met with service chiefs and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State amid the ongoing political crisis in the region.
Tinubu announced the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for a period of six months.
The President appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retired) as a military administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for the initial six-month period. Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to justify the proclamation. This section defines a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster, allowing the government to suspend normal constitutional procedures to restore order.
A state of emergency grants the President the authority to implement immediate regulations to ensure public safety and maintain order.
For nearly two months, the political feud and power struggle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his former political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have escalated over control of the political machinery in the oil-rich state. The tension has reportedly led to pipeline explosions, while civil servants have threatened mass protests against the Martins Amaewhule-led faction in the State House of Assembly, which remains loyal to Wike.
Tinubu said, “The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President.
President Bola Tinubu will address the nation at 7 pm Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast on the situation in Rivers State.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, revealed this in a statement he signed Tuesday titled ‘President Tinubu broadcasts to the nation.’
“The NTA and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria will transmit the broadcast at 7 pm.
“All TV and radio stations are requested to link up with the broadcast,” it read.
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revoked the land of the Peoples Democratic Party’s national secretariat, which is situated in Abuja.
Wike issued the revocation notice in a letter dated March 13, 2025, titled, “Notice of right of occupancy with file no: MISC 81346 in respect of plot no: 243 within central area district, Abuja,” on Tuesday.
It was signed by the Director, Land Administration (FTC), Chijioke Nwankwoeze.
According to him, the opposition party has failed to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from January 1, 2006, to January 1, 2025, despite many publications in several national dailies and electronic media to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on its property.
The letter read, “I have been directed to refer to the above Right of Occupancy granted to PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT and inform you that the Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 243 within Central Area, Cadastral Zone A00, Abuja.
“The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for twenty (20) years, from Ist of January 2006 to 1st of January 2025. This is despite the many publications made by the FCT Administration since 2023 in several national dailies and on electronic media requesting all allottees of plots in the Federal Capital Territory to pay up every outstanding bill and ground rent on their property.
“You would please note that the said breaches by PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), NATIONAL SECRETARIAT (MISC 81346) run contrary to the provisions of Section 28, Subsection 5 (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act.”
The minister added that the FCTA administration he led will henceforth take immediate possession of the party secretariat until all bills are settled.
More details later…