The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has vowed to sue individuals or organizations that describe the 1966 Nigerian military coup as an “Igbo coup.”
This was revealed by Kanu’s Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, in a statement shared on his X account and also sent to Reporters. Ejimakor disclosed that Kanu issued the directive during a visit by his legal team to the Department of State Services (DSS) custody on Monday.
“At today’s visitation with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, he instructed us as his team of lawyers to take vigorous legal action against any person or entity that henceforth refers to the unnecessary 1966 coup as an Igbo coup,” Ejimakor stated.
Kanu’s legal team stressed that the 1966 coup, often referred to as an “Igbo coup,” involved individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Ejimakor listed the names and ethnicities of the coup plotters to refute the label:
– Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu (Igbo)
– Major Adewale Ademoyega(Yoruba)
– Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna (Igbo)
– Capt. G. Adeleke (Yoruba)
– Capt. Gibson Jalo (Bali)
– Capt. Swanton (Middle Belt)
– Lt. Fola Oyewole (Yoruba)
– Lt. R. Egbiko (Esan)
– Lt. T. Katsina (Hausa/Fulani)
– Lt. O. Olafemiyan (Yoruba)
– Lt. Hope Eghagha (Urhobo)
– Lt. Dag Warribor (Ijaw)
– 2nd Lt. Saleh Dambo (Hausa)
– 2nd Lt. John Atom Kpera (Tiv)
Ejimakor emphasized, “Out of 14, only two were Igbo. Why Igbo traducers and Igbophobic falsifiers of history tagged it ‘Igbo coup,’ only God knows.”
He further argued that the mischaracterization of the coup reflects “unfounded and unjustifiable hatred” and contributes to Kanu’s ongoing detention without trial.
Kanu, described by his legal counsel as a “quintessential leader,” is resolute in ensuring that no Igbo individual endures what he has faced in Nigeria’s judiciary system.
The 1966 coup, led by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu, is often cited as a significant turning point in Nigeria’s history, leading to widespread ethnic tensions. Kanu’s legal action seeks to challenge the narrative that it was solely an “Igbo coup,” which his team believes fuels prejudice and misinformation.
Kanu’s stance comes amid broader conversations on Nigeria’s historical narratives and the role of ethnicity in its political discourse. His determination to legally challenge what he perceives as historical misrepresentation highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding Nigeria’s civil and political history.
