Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned “the insensitive, callous and irrationally calculated attempt” by former Niger Delta militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, to intentionally influence the outcome of the trial of detained leader of the now proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by an Abuja Federal High Court.

“We condemn the systematic campaign of calumny by Mr. Asari Dokubo targeting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is on trial in a competent court of law in charges filed by the federal government of Nigeria,” the civil society group said in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko.

“We think that his (Dokubo’s) constant media outbursts seeking to undermine the defense that may be put up by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in the Court is totally unconstitutional, primitive, tendentious, provocative and animalistic and he must be called to order,” the group added.

It wondered if Nigeria has become a nation without a conscience so much so as to allow citizen on trial to be so abused, harassed and intimidated by what HURIWA referred to as “garrulous reactionaries.”

According to HURIWA, the likes of Mr. Asari Dokubo were constantly in the media, trying to undermine the rule of law by seeking to influence proceedings in the court, including calling for an indefinite detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because the federal government itself was indulging in media trial and does not believe in constitutional democracy.

“If this were in the United Kingdom, the court would have taken action against Mr. Asari Dokubo because you do not try to influence the proceedings of the court of law by using the media of mass communication which is sub-judicial and contemptuous.

“The criticism by Mr. Asari Dokubo, blaming IPOB as the one behind Mondays sit-at-home is nonsensical because IPOB is not behind the Monday sit-at-home,” HURIWA insisted.

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