Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Worried by the rising spate of violence in the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria, the family of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Finland-based self-acclaimed discipline of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Mazi Simon Ekpa, to cease from using the name or the image of Kanu in his broadcasts or fundraise.
Kanu’s family accused Ekpa of hiding under the cloak of Kanu’s disciple to incite violence in South-East
Kanu’s family in a letter by their Attorney, Magnus Jonsson, dated May 17, 2022, threatened to commence legal action against Ekpa if he failed to comply with the demands of the letter.
In the copy of the letter made available to Ikengaonline, Kanu’s family also demanded that Ekpa should desist from making defamatory comments against members of the family.
Below is a full text of the letter:
“A DEMAND TO CEASE ÅND DESIST FROM USING THE NAME OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU FOR MATERIAL GAIN, ETC :”
“Dear Mr Ekpa:
The Kanu family, both in Nigeria and in the diaspora, has retained undersigned to formally demand from you as follows:
“That you should forthwith cease and desist from using the name and image of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, either in your broadcasts or otherwise, for any material gain whatsoever including any fundraising.
“That you should forthwith cease and desist from addressing yourself as a Disciple of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, either in the guise of you being a member of IPOB (which we are informed you are not) or in any other manner relating to Biafra agitation.
“That you should forthwith cease and desist from any further defamatory publications against any member of the Kanu family, whether such publications are personally uttered by you or by others that you invite to your social media networks.
“That you are hereby given Fourteen (14) days from the confirmed receipt of this Legal Mail within which to comply with the demands in this letter.
“That your failure or refusal to comply with the demands herein will result in costly legal actions against you, including but not limited to the following:
“(a) Direct criminal complaint against you to Finnish authorities and/or to any European country in which you are encountered.
“(b) Tortious and injunctive claims against you for the civil injuries enumerated above.
“(c) Petitions against you to the Finnish authorities that regulate legal practice such as you are currently applying in Finland.
“Finally, you are hereby warned that this Legal Mail constitutes a pre-action Notice that no further forma! warnings will be forthcoming to you before our commencement of the forgoing legal actions against you.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in the regards of the contents of this Legal Mail.”
IPOB on several occasions had accused Ekpa of inciting the current spate of violence in the South East, saying that his actions are not in congruence with the philosophy of the movement which believes in Biafra restoration through non-violence.
