In a desperate move to bring the Federal Government of Nigeria to Justice over the brutal and serial massacre of unarmed members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), EKWENCHE, an Igbo irredentist organisation registered in the United States of America (US) is soliciting for fund to initiate legal action against the government.

The Chicago-based organisation, in a statement issued by one of its promoters, Chukwuemeka I. Onyesoh disclosed that it has enlisted the services of Jack Quinn, a prominent US lawyer, known for the 9/11 case where families of victims pursued a liability action against the Saudi Arabian government.

It recalled that Jack Quinn pioneered the unanimous passing of legislation by the US Senate on Tuesday, 17th May 2016, allowing 9/11 families to sue the Saudi government over alleged involvement of some of the country’s officials.

According to Onyesoh, the lawyer needs a deposit of $100,000 to commence proceedings. The group is calling on Nigerians who may wish to lend their support to link up with it at Ekwenche.org and communicate directly with one Dr. Akujeze, who is leading the campaign.

“EKWENCHE has done it before. In the case of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Femi Aborisade, Owens Wiwa, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, and Hafsat Abiola, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Defendant-Appellant (408 F.3d 877 7th Cir. 2005, Annotate this Case U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit - 408 F.3d 877 (7th Cir. 2005), Argued January 10, 2005, Decided May 23, 2005), the plaintiffs had sued Nigeria's three former Military Heads of State and Chief Ernest Shonekan for torture, death, unlawful detention and violations of fundamental human rights.

“After the Appeal Court ruled that General Abubakar, who was the only among the four that was properly served, while receiving honor done to him by Chicago State University, was not covered by any immunity out of office and therefore should answer the charges, the Federal Government of Nigeria was compelled, on the advice of US State Department, to negotiate settlement with Chief Arthur Nwankwo and Hafsat Abiola (on behalf of Abiola family), the two subsisting plaintiffs in the suit, the others having defaulted in appearance/or deposition. Chief Nwankwo confirmed that EKWENCHE Organization of Chicago was instrumental to the success of the suit by ensuring personal service of Gen. Abubakar through the organization's attorney. A twelve-point settlement was forced on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the details of which were not made public,” the statement read.

The organisation frowned at President Muhammadu Buhari attitude, implicit in his declaration: “At least two millions Nigerians were killed in the Biafra war. And for somebody to wake up, maybe they weren’t born. Looking for Biafra after two millions people were killed, they are joking with the security and Nigeria won’t tolerate Biafra.”

•Photo shows US lawyer Jack Quinn.

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