Dpa reacts to police declaration regarding Nnamdi Keanu’s lawyer

DPA Administration is deeply concerned upon reading in the press the declaration by the police that Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lawyer and member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is wanted in connection with murder, mayhem and other serious offences.

Mr. Ejiofor, who is also representing Mr. David Aiyedegbon in relation to the disappearance death of Chacha, for which Mr. Aiyedegbon was suspected by this organization, has posted on the social media a video recorded statement made from his hideout. In his recorded statement, the obviously scared and agitated lawyer denied any involvement and professed his innocence as to the allegations the police have leveled against him. True to the discipline of our organization, we must presume Mr. Ejiofor innocent until proven otherwise. Beyond that, DPA demands that his due process rights be respected. Such rights include, but are not limited to, the right to know the nature of the evidence the police have against him and the opportunity to confront and controvert such evidence in a court of law.

DPA has been on the receiving end of police abuse of power in Nigeria. It is noted that Mr. Ejiofor has self-confessed to being a friend and supporter of the Nigerian police. We defend his due process rights nonetheless. Even though he recently supported the police against DPA as gathered from his comments in the media, we derive no pleasure from his current predicament. In fact, in legal reasoning, there is something known as the doctrine of estoppel. When a person has been known to publicly hold a particular position, he is not allowed to suddenly change that position. Having held the view that the Nigerian police are to be trusted when they accuse others of serious crimes, Ejiofor should be estopped from suddenly turning around to suggest that the police are wrong when they accuse him of murder. But DPA shall refrain from holding Ejiofor to his cruel standards of justice. We shall instead remain committed to own standard of justice, equity and fairness, and apply that standard to Ejiofor.

As we gathered from the video recording shared by Ejiofor, he seems to be on the run. We understand how dangerous and complicated his circumstances are right now. We therefore urge Commissioner of Police Abang to issue a public statement assuring the Nigerian public that Ejiofor will not be physically abused or maltreated if he surrenders himself to the police. And upon such assurance, we urge Ejiofor to turn himself in to the nearest police station. We fear that to continue on the run might create an excuse to harm him and to prevent the world from knowing the truth of what really happened.

Before he turns himself in, though, we suggest he should hire an articulate lawyer who can better present his case intelligently to the public as well as defend his best interest in dealings with the authorities. His current practice of making video recordings of himself while on the run is an ill-advised and very distasteful tactic in dealing with an extremely combustible situation. Not only is he not in the right state of mind to argue his defenses, he lacks the full presence of the mind and he exposes all those who assist him now to serious legal jeopardy. Ejiofor may not quite understand it, given his limited exposure, but anyone that assists him or communicates with him as he runs or hides runs the risk of committing a crime. He may not be aware that the police can track, and must have been tracking, every call he makes now. Therefore, the best option is to turn himself in if he has not already done that. He should really consider what it is worth for him to expose more of his friends to legal risks.

We further urge the police to resist the temptation to visit any prejudice and bias they may have against the Biafran project or IPOB on Ejiofor for wittingly and unwittingly holding himself out as the voice of that group. The allegations the police have leveled against him are exceptionally serious. Such allegations must never be leveled against a person except where the evidence is demonstrably clear and convincing, and capable of proof beyond all reasonable doubt.

We end by extending our sympathies to the family of Ejiofor, particularly his wife and children. Every child suffers when such child is deprived of the presence of his or her parent. In this particular regard, we also extend our deepest sympathies and support to the families, particularly the children, of the police officers whose lives were cut short in this violent escalation, as well as to all others who lost their lives in this case. We call on all sides to eschew violence and seek peaceful means to resolve their differences. Resorting to violence never pays.

May the souls of the departed rest in peace.

DPA Management