Punch
Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has tackled the Department of State Services over claims that the IPOB leader is living a luxurious life in detention and not maltreated.
In a press statement on Wednesday, Ejiofor said his client is tortured mentally and psychologically on a daily basis in detention.
Contrary to claims by DSS’ spokesperson, Dr Peter Afunanya, the IPOB lawyer claimed that Kanu is subjected to 23 hours daily solitary confinement.
Ejiofor in a statement titled, ‘Press statement in rebuttal of the wrong narrative being fed the public by the DSS vide their spokesperson’, said Kanu is not also allowed to change his outfit since he was repatraited from Kenya.
Part of the statement read, “Our client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu needs not be subjected to daily beatings and flogging by the personnel of the DSS before he can be qualified as being tortured – No!
“Section 2(b)(iv) of the Anti-Torture Act 2017, defined torture to include:
“(b) Mental or psychological torture, which is understood as referring to such cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment calculated to affect or confuse the mind or undermine a person’s dignity and morale.
“We were unable to find in any place throughout his statement where Mr. Afunanya clearly denied the fact that our client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not subjected to 23 hours daily solitary confinement.
