By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to collaborate with the Finish Government to extradite and prosecute Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPoB), who is currently championing the sit-at-home orders in the South East.
This came as the Red Chambers also rejected a prayer that called on the Federal Government to obey all court orders that had granted bail to the Leader of IPoB, Nnamdi Kanu.
It also threw out another prayer urging the Federal Government to use a political solution approach in handling Kanu’s case.
*Tasks security agencies on use of technology to track criminals in S’ East
The Senate also agreed to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs (when appointed) and relevant stakeholders to carry out a thorough investigation into the crises in the South-East as well as bring other sponsors of the act to book.
The red chamber condemned the ‘sit at home’ in totality as well as the nefarious activities of Ekpa who is the gang leader.
The resolutions followed a motion jointly sponsored by all the Igbo senators and presented by Senator Izunaso who is representing Imo West Senatorial District.
The motion read, “Aware that thousands of Innocent lives have been lost since this action started, and properties worth a trillion have been destroyed which has resulted in investors leaving the region.
“Further aware that the ‘sit-at-home’ civil disobedience actions in the South East have led to the disruption/destruction of economic activities. It has also led to immeasurable financial losses for businesses, workers, and the local economy.
“This is because, when people are forced to stay at home and businesses remain closed, productivity declines and income is reduced, thereby affecting livelihoods and economic growth. The ‘sit-at-home’ protests disrupt the education of students, leading to missed classes and delays in academic progress.
“Such prolonged disruptions have long-term effects on students’ learning outcomes and educational development.
“The Senate is disturbed that disruption of essential public services, such as healthcare, transportation, and waste disposal, continues to have a severe impact during ‘sit-at-home’ protests. It adversely affects the well-being and safety of the general population living in the South East.
“The Senate is further disturbed that the ‘sit-at-home’ protests continue to lead to acts of violence and clashes with law enforcement agencies which have led to an uncountable loss of lives of innocent people, security agents, and the protesters.
“This increases the potential for criminal elements to take advantage of the situation to engage in looting or other unlawful activities while the people stayed at home.
“The Senate is worried that if the activities of Simon Ekpa, who is issuing the illegal ‘sit at home’ orders are not checked, he may succeed in corrupting the minds of Nigerian youths and turn them against the government which is tantamount to treasonable felony.”
The Federal High Court had in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed the bail request filed by Kanu.
It was the second time in a row the court would turn down the bail request by the IPoB leader, who faces seven terrorism-related charges.
Ruling on the latest bail application, the judge, Binta Nyako, held that Kanu’s second bail request amounts to an abuse of the court process after a similar application was rejected on May 18.
