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IPOB: Nnamdi Kanu Allegedly Bars Brother from Issuing Statements
The leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has reportedly ordered his brother, Prince Emmanuel, to stop making public statements on behalf of himself or the family.
Emmanuel, in January, urged the public to disregard a voice note that had gone viral, alleging that the IPOB Leader was poisoned in detention.
He claimed that he met with the IPOB Leader at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, where he is currently detained.
Reliable sources told POLITICS NIGERIA that the statement issued by Prince Emmanuel has degenerated into controversies among top members of the group.
Many believed Emmanuel’s statement downplayed the health challenges of the leader and the concerns for his safety.
They noted that the leader of the group was miffed by the statement released by his brother and has ordered that he should stop making public statements.
POLITICS NIGERIA also obtained a series of correspondences between the IPOB leader and members of the group.
A member of the group who pleaded anonymity confirmed this saying: “It is true that Emmanuel has been ordered to stop making statements. This came from Mazi himself. We are working on settling the issue,”.
As of the time of filing this report, the outlawed group’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and spokesperson, Emma Powerful, could not be reached for comments.
Inside IPOB’s multiple crises
This comes at a time the IPOB is facing crises in different countries including Germany and South Africa, which has led to the expulsion and suspension of members.
Another Kanu’s sibling, Kingsley Ezebuiro, who is also known as ‘Kanunta’, was suspended from the IPOB branch in Germany late January.
Kingsley’s suspension was announced in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group in Germany, Collins Chinedu.
“The lPOB leadership in Germany unanimously suspends him (Kingsley) indefinitely from the family of IPOB in Germany led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with effect from today, the 21st of January 2023,” the statement read.
Kingsley was also accused of engaging in activities that bring disrepute to the IPOB globally.
The group said Kingsley is just an ordinary member of IPOB in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, but has been using his affiliation to the detained IPOB leader, Mr Kanu to gain “unmerited super advantage” and has been placing himself above every IPOB rule.
But Kingsley, in a series of tweets, has debunked news of his suspension, stating that it was masterminded by Chinedu, who he claimed has been expelled.
“I am born for a day like this, Kanunta Kanu is very much around”bThis is to inform the general public that Mr Collins Chinedu, was officially expelled from #IpobfamilyGermany by #MaziNnamdiKanu on 28:11:2022 through @AloyEjimakor . And his successor is Mazi OGBONNA ABRAHAM,” he wrote on Twitter.
In another codified tweet, the IPOB leader’s brother challenged Chinedu for not wanting to relinquish his position.
“After all, I am not being paid for serving IPOB – yes you are right. But why do you put up a fight when you’re asked to leave your position?” Kingsley asked.
Like Germany, Like South Africa
Also in January, the South African branch of the group suspended some members for anti-IPOB activities.
This, POLITICS NIGERIA gathered, led to the creation of a parallel organisation within the South African branch.
The suspended members have registered another IPOB branch in Western Cape under which they operate.
But the South African national coordinator, Ogechukwu Isu, has countered the creation of the parallel group.
He reiterated that all communication and requests for marches or any public gathering will only be made through the official Head Office in South Africa based in Johannesburg, Braamfontein.
“It has come to our attention that certain members in various provinces who have been suspended for not abiding by the constitution and code of conduct of the organisation (POB), are going around masquerading and presenting themselves and holding, marches, protests or events in the name of IPOB This is most regrettable and unfortunate because unsuspecting people have been caught unawares and misled by these acts of the imposters concerned.
There is only one IPOB registered with the CIPC with the registration numbers 2019/593089/08 or further with registration number 2022/618519/08, which is the NPC registration and Welfare registration but to all intents and purposes referring to the same organisation,” he stated.
A Family Business?
Furthermore, It was gathered that Kanu, who is very unhappy with the crisis in the group, also instructed his brother, Emmanuel to confirm the status of some foreign bank accounts owned by the group from Kingsley adding that they should also give feedback on the amount of funds held in them.
This newspaper gathered that the crisis in Germany which led to Kingsley’s suspension was also partly caused by the discovery of over 700,000 Euros stockpiled in one of the organisation’s account managed by him.
Source: Politics Nigeria
The Federal government has emphasised that the “no work, no pay” policy remains an existing labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) begins on a two-week warning strike today.
The government stated that it will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted in the nation’s universities.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the government reaffirmed that while it continues to demonstrate goodwill and flexibility, it will not abdicate its responsibility to uphold fairness and accountability in the use of public resources.
The statement, however, reassured Nigerian students, parents, and the general public that the Federal government remains firmly committed to maintaining industrial harmony within the tertiary education system.
It added that the Minister of Education has appealed to all academic unions to embrace partnership and dialogue, rather than confrontation, in the collective interest of the nation’s higher education sector.
ASUU, on Sunday, announced a total and comprehensive two-week warning strike in public universities across Nigeria.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday at the University of Abuja, the union’s National President, Professor Chris Piwuna, stated that there has been no meaningful progress to prevent the union from moving forward with its planned industrial action.
He explained that the 14-day notice, issued on September 28, 2025, had lapsed without any substantial response from the relevant authorities.
He stated that all ASUU branches across the country have been directed to commence a full withdrawal of their services beginning at midnight on Monday, October 13, 2025.
According to Professor Piwuna, the strike would be both total and comprehensive, in line with the resolution reached at the union’s most recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.
On Wednesday last week, the Federal Government appealed to ASUU to shelve its planned strike, assuring that it is committed to addressing all outstanding demands raised by the union.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the Federal government is already looking into the demands of the union and progress is already being made in the ongoing negotiations between both parties.
The minister explained that the Mahmud Yayale Ahmed Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expanded Negotiation Committee had been reconstituted and inaugurated to fast-track talks with both academic and non-academic unions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
He added that President Bola Tinubu had given clear directives that all efforts must be made to avoid another disruption in the nation’s tertiary institutions.
Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has received a presidential pardon from President Bola Tinubu after spending six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.
In a statement released on Saturday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said, “Her family pleaded for her release, arguing that it was in the best interest of her two children. The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new lifestyle, demonstrating her commitment to being a model prisoner.”
The pardon is part of a larger decision by President Tinubu to grant clemency to 175 Nigerians and foreigners, including notable figures such as the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, Major General Mamman Vatsa, and other members of the “Ogoni Nine.”
“This marked one of the most expansive uses of the presidential prerogative of mercy, touching on high-profile historical cases,” the statement added.
Maryam Sanda’s case first gained public attention when Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court in Abuja convicted and sentenced her to death by hanging on January 27, 2020, ruling that she had fatally stabbed her husband at their home.
“She should reap what she has sown, for it has been said that ‘thou shall not kill’ and whoever kills in cold blood deserves death as his own reward,” Justice Halilu declared at the time.
Following her conviction, Sanda’s legal team filed an appeal on 20 grounds, questioning the evidence and alleging bias, but the Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal on December 3, 2020, affirming the conviction and death sentence.
“The circumstances surrounding the death can be the best proof of what is being alleged,” noted Justice Stephen Adah, reinforcing the lower court’s findings.
Police authorities later sought to have the Supreme Court uphold the sentence. Police counsel James Idachaba said, “We are satisfied with the findings of the trial and appeals court, and we are prepared to defend the law’s position at the Supreme Court,” highlighting the commitment to justice in the case.
The presidential pardon list, released on Saturday, is divided into six categories: pardoned individuals, posthumous pardons (including the Ogoni Nine), victims of the Ogoni Nine honoured, clemency beneficiaries, inmates recommended for reduced terms, and inmates on death row whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
The Punch
Nigeria’s digital economy drive was lifted on Wednesday as national telecommunications company, Globacom, expressed its strong support for the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) Business Roundtable on Broadband Investment and Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure taking place at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
With the theme, “Right of Way and Protection of Broadband Infrastructure – The Road to Success in Broadband Investment and Connectivity,” the high-level meeting brings together stakeholders from federal and state governments, the private sector, telecom operators, and regulatory agencies to develop strategies for improving broadband penetration and protecting national telecom assets.
Globacom’s sponsorship and active collaboration at the two-day forum underscore its pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s digital transformation drive. The company is offering logistical and technical support to ensure the seamless delivery of the event, reflecting its enduring commitment to broadening access to fast, reliable, and inclusive digital connectivity across the nation.
Industry experts have described the roundtable as a strategic platform for aligning government and private sector priorities, addressing challenges related to Right of Way (RoW), and enhancing regulatory coordination to meet the nation’s broadband targets particularly in rural communities.
Globacom’s participation also positions it to contribute to policy discussions on broadband infrastructure protection, investment incentives, and sustainable frameworks for sectoral growth. The company’s continued advocacy for equitable digital access underscores its belief that strong infrastructure and security are essential foundations for a modern, competitive economy.
“We believe that digital transformation must be inclusive and secure. Our participation in this roundtable is a continuation of our mission to support national development through technology. A resilient broadband infrastructure is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness”, Globacom stated.
In addition, Globacom’s support for the Critical National Information Infrastructure Protection Plan (CNIIPP) reinforces efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s communication backbone against cyber threats and sabotage.
As deliberations progress, Globacom maintains its position as more than a telecommunications provider standing as a key partner in building a digitally empowered, economically vibrant, and secure Nigeria.
