The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that its former lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has been sacked and remains dismissed by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued by the IPOB Spokesperson and Media and Publicity Secretary, Mazi Emma Powerful, the group condemned what it described as the spurious claims by the sacked and disengaged external solicitor, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who allegedly falsely asserted that “IPOB reaffirmed him as its lawyer” through a letter signed by expelled members.

IPOB said the document being paraded by Ejiofor is a legal nullity and was purportedly signed by Chika Edoziem, whom it claimed is no longer a member of the organisation.

The group described it as a ridiculous absurdity for sacked and expelled individuals to gather and issue a letter of appointment in the name of IPOB.

He said: “In IPOB, you cannot give what you do not have. Expelled elements cannot hire or reinstate a lawyer under the name and authority of the very movement they were excommunicated from. That piece of paper is not only unethical; it is dead on arrival.”

He said the Supreme Leader’s authority is absolute and exclusive, adding that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the indisputable Supreme Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

ALSO READ: Oyebanji names new Ekiti govt buildings after Fayemi, Fayose, Oni

He said: “By the clear tenets of our Code of Conduct (Section II, Subsection A), he possesses the sole authority to appoint, suspend, or dismiss officers, including legal representatives, unless he expressly delegates that power.”

Powerful insisted that Nnamdi Kanu sacked Ifeanyi Ejiofor and that he remains dismissed, adding that the Supreme Leader also expelled Chika Edoziem and others in the dissolved 3rd Directorate of State (DOS).

He said: “They remain expelled and are no longer members of the IPOB family. A gang-up of sacked and disgruntled elements does not constitute a leadership structure of IPOB. No group of expelled persons can overturn the decision of the Supreme Leader.”

The IPOB spokesperson expressed shock that a supposed lawyer could not read and understand the simple provisions of the organisation’s Code of Conduct, and advised Ifeanyi Ejiofor to study the code carefully before digging himself deeper into a professional hole.

He said: “Just as Nigeria has a Constitution (which many routinely disregard), we in IPOB adhere religiously to our own Code of Conduct. You must respect the rules of an entity before accepting a brief to represent them.”

IPOB reminded the legal community and the public of what it described as the source of the current legal quagmire, adding that Ifeanyi Ejiofor’s monumental failure of professional duty is a major reason Mazi Nnamdi Kanu remains in detention.

According to him, had Ejiofor performed his primary duty and filed a simple preliminary objection to the former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami’s, alleged illegal civil stay of execution, the case involving their leader would have been concluded years ago.

He said that instead, Ejiofor’s alleged professional negligence and apparent ignorance of basic law, specifically his failure to understand that one Court of Appeal panel cannot use civil procedure rules to overturn a criminal discharge, opened the door for what he described as injustice by Justice Omotosho’s court.

He said: “Worse still, when Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu boycotted the court at the resumption of trial, it was Ifeanyi Ejiofor who returned to court on his own.”

According to him, Ejiofor also visited the DSS to plead with Onyendu to return to court. He alleged that these actions, among others, amounted to sabotage and compromise, which was why he was sacked.

He added: “His lapses helped keep our Leader in jail.”

He described Ejiofor’s claims that the official letter dismissing him was unauthenticated as a blatant falsehood, adding that the dismissal letter was properly notarised before a lawyer in Sokoto.

He said that Ejiofor’s claim of ignorance of that fact confirmed his duplicity.

The group further alleged that whatever deal Ifeanyi Ejiofor may have struck with the Nigerian government to divide IPOB and destabilise its leadership is dead on arrival.

According to him, IPOB is fully prepared to meet him in court to explain how expelled members can claim to appoint anyone under the name of IPOB.

“He is free to represent any group of his choice, but certainly not the Indigenous People of Biafra,” he said.

He added: “He is sacked, compromised, and permanently disengaged. We do not want him anywhere near IPOB or the legal affairs of our Supreme Leader.”

He also said: “Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the Supreme Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. He alone has the sole authority to appoint and dismiss officers, including lawyers. Uche Mefor, Chika Edoziem, and others in the dissolved 3rd DOS are no longer IPOB members.”

The group reminded Ejiofor that, in its view, he had sabotaged their leader’s case enough and insisted that his services were no longer required or accepted.

He concluded: “Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has spoken. IPOB stands united with him. The Code of Conduct is supreme. Enough of the mischief and division. The deal, whatever it is, is dead on arrival. IPOB remains united under the leadership of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the 4th Directorate of State.”