The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has called for prayers and fasting ahead of his trial on Thursday.
Kanu also directed his followers not to harass or threaten his lawyers, adding that anyone who is caught doing so will not be forgiven.
The IPOB leader stated this during his routine meeting with his lawyers at the Department of State Services, DSS, headquarters in Abuja.
His statement was disclosed by his lead counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor.
The statement reads: “He requested that the fasting, supplications, and prayers should continue, as he noted that they are strongly impacting positively.
“In the interim, it is necessary to pass the following urgent and important messages, which are: Onyendu made it categorically clear that none of his lawyers should be harassed, threatened or accused by anybody claiming to be his supporter or follower, regardless of the person’s tie with him. He was very particular about those who find it convenient to insult his Attorneys vide their live social media platforms.
“Our Client Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu emphasized that he trusts his lawyers and continues to have high confidence in them.
“That anybody engaged in such harassment, threats and unfounded accusations directed against his lawyers, is definitely working against him, and that he shall never forgive such person(s) and shall eternally see such person(s) as his enemy.
“That any such threats, harassment and false accusations against any of his lawyers should seize forthwith.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
