The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has denied any involvement in the murder of a former presidential aide and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed Gulak.
In a statement on Tuesday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group disputed charges linking the Biafra group to Gulak’s killing. In response to the claims, Powerful stated that Gulak was slain on Sunday, May 30, 2021, while the sit-at-home observance declared for the annual May 30th Remembrance Day in 2021 took place on Monday, May 31.
While denying the reports as inaccurate and misleading, the IPOB spokesperson stated that the APC chieftain was assassinated in Owerri, Imo State’s capital, a full day before the IPOB observance.
“This timeline alone proves that IPOB had no involvement in his death. Linking the tragic event to IPOB is baseless,” the statement read.
The group also spoke on the recent introduction of Gulak’s death certificate during the ongoing trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. According to the group, the certificate has “no relevance to the context of the trial”.
The group also criticised what it described as “media misrepresentation”, urging media outlets to adhere to the principles of “truth, accuracy, and objectivity”. IPOB called for transparency in reporting and demanded that “the full transcript of court proceedings be reviewed before spreading unverified claims.”
“We call on all responsible media outlets to prioritise factual reporting and avoid spreading narratives that could mislead the public,” the statement concluded.
The group also renewed its demand for the “immediate and unconditional release” of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who it alleges is “unlawfully detained in violation of local and international law”.
This comes only hours after the Federal High Court in Abuja admitted Gulak’s medical report and death certificate as evidence in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the jailed IPOB leader facing terrorist charges.
Justice James Omotoso, who presided over the proceedings, accepted the documents presented by the prosecution through a witness merely designated as BBB, with no objection from the defence team led by Kanu Agabi (SAN), Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), and Aloy Ejimakor.
The prosecution, led by Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), presented the documents, which included a police report from Owerri, Imo State, that linked Gulak’s death to gunmen suspected of being members of IPOB.
