The head of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko has condemned the secret trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as unconstitutional, primitive, illegal and obnoxious.
This was contained in a press release issued by Mr. Onwubiko on Thursday and made available to Tori Media.
In the statement, Onwubiko described the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government as “days of military tribunal whereby citizens were simply chopped off the streets and made to face organised trial with predetermined outcome”.
He said: “Secret trial for the leader of the now proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after he was abducted forcefully from Kenya in East Africa by Nigeria’s secret services in collaboration with their Kenyan counterparts, after being subjected to horrendous ordeals and illegal rendition which offends relevant international humanitarian laws, is unconstitutional, primitive, illegal and obnoxious.
“It is as if Nigeria is back to the days of military tribunal whereby citizens were simply chopped off the streets and made to face organised trial with predetermined outcome.
“The decision on the Nnamdi Kanu’s case is totally unlawful and irregular.
“If the government believes it has a case against him, which is very doubtful, why is government afraid of the light and has chosen to try him in the dark?
“This may escalate the security situation in the South East because most people will see this as not being transparent, open and justifiably carried out.
“Whatever outcome from such a secret trial is ab initio null, void and of no moment.
“We in the Human Rights Writers Association Of Nigeria (HURIWA) reject this appalling demolition of judicial transparency by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.
“This will adversely damage constitutional democracy,” he concluded.