Human Rights Activist and Anambra State born Constitutional Lawyer has today presented a petition to the DSS Boss in Abuja against Prince Emmanuel Kanu [Fineboy], junior brother to the IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu. The petition borders on criminal intimidation and threat to life because of the dissenting views held by the former IPOB Leader’s Counsel [Barr. Johnmary Jideobi] on the Anambra election. Below is the full letter.
28th June, 2017
THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
STATE SECURITY SERVICE (SSS),
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS,
ASO DRIVE,
ABUJA.
Dear Sir,
PETITION ON CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION AND THREAT TO MY LIFE AGAINST ONE PRINCE EMMANUEL KANU [ a.k.a. FINEBOY] AND THE NEED FOR URGENT INVESTIGATION
The above subject matter refers.
I write to bring to your kind attention the criminal intimidation and ferocious threat to my life issued by one Mr. Prince Emmanuel Kanu [a.k.a. Fineboy], junior brother to Nnamdi Kanu, the Leader of the Indigineous People of Biafra [IPOB] on the 26th day of June, 2017 [around 10:04am].
The genesis of the threat is traceable to the post I put up on my facebook wall which was equally published on www.odogwublog.com with this link: http://www.odogwublog.com/2017/06/nnamdi-kanu-and-election-boycott.html
It was after the publication of this news item that Prince Kanu, using his mobile phone number 08030405675, sent me a text warning me to “be very careful”. Thereafter, he called me and queried why I would oppose his brother Nnamdi Kanu by telling people that election would hold contrary to his [Nnamdi Kanu’s] declaration that elections would no longer hold in Igboland. He assured me, that as a result, I would not be safe anywhere I am for daring to challenge his brother.
The crux of this petition raises the issue of freedom of expression, freedom to hold opinion, the civic duty to cast votes in elections and sanctity of life [all constitutionally guaranteed under the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria] on the one hand, while on the other hand it equally raises the issue of criminal intimidation and threat to life punishable by our extant laws.
Mindful of the duty cast on me as a bona fide citizen of Nigeria by the Constitution which by its section 24(a) enjoins as follows;
It shall be the duty of every citizen to –
(a) abide by this Constitution, respect its ideals and its institutions, the National Flag, the National Anthem, the National Pledge, and legitimate authorities;
It is in abiding by the Constitution and exercising my undoubted right to freedom of expression and the right to hold opinion and propagate same that I encouraged my Anambra compatriots to ignore the directives of Nnamdi Kanu [a directive lacking in any stamp of legitimate authority which the APGA in Anambra State has aptly described as irresponsible, irredentist and totally devoid of any focus while warning the IPOB Leader that Ndigbo have not instituted a separatist movement or a terrorist gang as it were. ]
While essentially acknowledging the supremacy of God Almighty in the overall affairs of life, security of life inclusive, it is still of great importance to emphasise the constitutional responsibility of the Nation’s security [especially the Service] to protect lives and properties, investigate crime, prevent crime and ultimately take all necessary measures to bring criminal culprits to account [explaining the rational for the present petition]. In putting this on record, it is to be hoped that in the event of anything untoward befalling me henceforth [God forbid], the authorities, family members, Human Rights communities, friends and well-wishers would know the direction to look in unraveling such incident and apportioning culpability.
While I solemnly confirm the factual content of this petition and at the same time give my undertaking to assist the Service in every material particular in its investigation of same, I urge you to use your good offices to urgently commence a full-scale investigation into this heavy allegation that verges on the threat to my life the sanctity of which is amply protected by the laws of the land.
Please Sir, do kindly accept the firm assurances of my esteemed regards.
Yours faithfully,
JOHNMARY CHUKWUKASI JIDEOBI, Esq.
Cc;
1. The Inspector-General of Police
2. The National Human Rights Commission
3. The Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria
4. The Executive Governor of Enugu State of Nigeria
5. The Executive Governor of Abia State of Nigeria
6. The Executive Governor of Imo State of Nigeria
7. The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State of Nigeria
8. The Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence
9. The House Committee on National Security and Intelligence
10. The Senate Committee on Human Rights
11. The House Committee on Human Rights
12. The National President Nigerian Bar Association [NBA]
13. Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo
