How Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Ozekhome received $80,000 for Kanu’s case

Kanunta Kanu, younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has said Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Mike Ozekhome (SAN) received the whooping sum of $80,000 for Kanu’s case.

He disclosed this in a post on his official X handle on Wednesday night.

Kanunta Kanu’s revelation was a direct counter to Mr Ejiofor’s claim that the services he rendered to IPOB while serving as their lead counsel was Pro Bono.

NewsBand reported that Kanu’s family in May 2023 announced the immediate sack of Ifeanyi Ejiofor and Mike Ozekhome.

In a statement titled, ”Notice of Dismissal”, the family apparently informed the duo that their services was not longer needed.

Ozekhome’s alleged refusal to allow Kanu’s personal doctors access to him for the urgent ear surgery was cited by the family as part of reasons for the action.

Meanwhile, Barrister Ejiofor, since he was booted out of Kanu’s legal team, have been under serious scrutiny by the irate supporters of the separatist movement who accused him of sabotage.

In a statement on Monday, Ejiofor while trying to clear his name from any wrong doing said that since 2015 when he took over as Kanu’s lead counsel, he performed his duties diligently and maintained ethical standards.

Also, he said his legal doggedness led to the release of Nnamdi Kanu and other IPOB members in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

According to him, most of these legal fireworks was done on Pro Bono.

He said in the statement, “I have maintained a deliberate silence amidst the unfolding developments in the ongoing  hearing on Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case. However, due to recent compelling circumstances and for record purposes, I find it necessary to provide some clarifications. It is crucial for Biafrans and Ezigbo UmuChineke to take note of the following points:

“I joined Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s legal team in December, 2015 and eventually took on the role of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s lead Counsel and also as the IPOB General/Lead Counsel in January, 2016.

“Since 2015, I have diligently performed my professional duties in defending Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB while upholding ethical standards.

“Despite achieving significant and unprecedented victories/milestone  in securing the release of Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other comrades in 2017 and 2018 respectively, I have also worked tirelessly to secure the release of numerous IPOB members from detention facilities – both at the federal and state levels – possibly numbering in their thousands.

“These efforts have not gone without consequent repercussions, as both state and non-state actors have attempted to eliminate me through various inordinate means, part of which was the invasion of my ancestral home in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area, Anambra State, by Nigerian Security agents, which murderous operation was bankrolled by a monster from my town whose identity and clandestine role is now a subject of public concerns. During this operation, many civilians were murdered in their prime and over 30 houses were burnt, all in a bid to eliminate me at all costs and by any means for being Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Attorney and IPOB Lead counsel.

“Since their evil mission was not completely accomplished on the 2nd of December 2019, another bloody invasion of my ancestral home was carried out in June 2021, this time with specifics, confirming my availability at the time of invasion. Acting on this strong lead, my house was invaded at the wee hours of the morning of 6th of June 2021, and my personal assistant in the person of Mr. Samuel Okoro was gruesomely murdered, his dead body dumped in the boot of my car and subsequently set ablaze at Neni, in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. Three of my wards, to wit; Ugochukwu Lawrence, Felix Okafor and Ikenna Chibuike abducted during this bloody invasion are still in detention till date, even as I struggle day in and day out to secure their release.

“Between the year 2015 and 2021, I have escaped five consecutive brutal assassination attempts ostensibly carried out by those who were on a specific instruction to kill me by any means and at all cost, and not because I am a criminal but because I was defending Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and Ezigbo Umuchineke.

“Those seeking to harm me have continued in their efforts, but their identities and strategies have been exposed and narrowed down to regular actors who now resorted to funding cult groups aiming to assassinate me.

“It should be noted that I have provided diligent and pro bono professional services to members of the IPOB peaceful global movement. I have repeatedly challenged anyone who claims otherwise, to provide  evidence of payments for my legal services but none has been presented till date.”

However, Mr Kanunta Kanu who countered Ejiofor’s claim of rendering Pro Bono service queried him if there was any time he received $19,000 from Bia foundation and another $80,000 throughout the time he worked for IPOB limited.

Kanunta said, “@EjioforBar throughout the time you worked for #MNK and #IPOB you were paid. Let me quickly remind you that Bia foundation gave you 19,000 dollars, you and @MikeOzekhomeSAN received over 80,000 dollars for #MNK case true or false? How do you define pro bono?”

Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor is yet to respond to this latest allegation by Kanunta Kanu.