Former Lawyer to Nnamdi Kanu Confirms Return of $19,000 Amid Ongoing Payment Dispute

In a recent clarification, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the former legal counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has confirmed that he returned $19,000 that was erroneously transferred to his account by the group’s leadership.

This statement comes amid a public dispute over whether Ejiofor received payments for his services during Kanu’s trial on charges related to separatism and terrorism.

Ejiofor issued a press release titled “Important Clarification to Discerning Minds,” emphasizing that the funds were credited in error shortly after Kanu’s arrest and rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021. According to Ejiofor, Kanu personally instructed him via formal correspondence to return the money, stating it was not intended for the alleged purpose. Ejiofor complied immediately, transferring the amount back to a proxy designated by Kanu on the same day. He has pledged to release transaction receipts and account details to substantiate his claim, asserting that these documents will provide full transparency.

The confirmation follows allegations from IPOB’s Finance Directorate, headed by Madam Nnennaya Anya, who recently disclosed details of the $19,000 transfer. In a statement, Anya claimed the payment was made on August 9, 2021, directly from IPOB’s U.S.-based Chase Bank account to Ejiofor’s USD domiciliary account at Fidelity Bank in Nigeria. She described it as funds for “humanitarian and advocacy purposes” in support of Kanu’s legal representation, dismissing Ejiofor’s narrative of an erroneous payment.

IPOB has also released information about an additional N10 million payment to Ejiofor via an office manager, further challenging his assertion that he provided services pro bono.

This exchange highlights tensions within IPOB circles regarding financial accountability during Kanu’s ongoing detention. Ejiofor, who was dismissed as Kanu’s lawyer in 2022, maintains that he never accepted fees for the case and that any funds received were promptly returned. Critics, including some within IPOB, have accused him of misrepresentation, with calls for evidence to resolve the matter.

As the dispute unfolds, it underscores broader issues of transparency in advocacy groups. Ejiofor’s promised release of documents could clarify the facts, while IPOB continues to defend its financial records. Kanu remains in custody, with his trial drawing international attention to Nigeria’s handling of separatist movements.

In a recent clarification, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the former legal counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has confirmed that he returned $19,000 that was erroneously transferred to his account by the group’s leadership.

This statement comes amid a public dispute over whether Ejiofor received payments for his services during Kanu’s trial on charges related to separatism and terrorism.

Ejiofor issued a press release titled “Important Clarification to Discerning Minds,” emphasizing that the funds were credited in error shortly after Kanu’s arrest and rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021. According to Ejiofor, Kanu personally instructed him via formal correspondence to return the money, stating it was not intended for the alleged purpose. Ejiofor complied immediately, transferring the amount back to a proxy designated by Kanu on the same day. He has pledged to release transaction receipts and account details to substantiate his claim, asserting that these documents will provide full transparency.

The confirmation follows allegations from IPOB’s Finance Directorate, headed by Madam Nnennaya Anya, who recently disclosed details of the $19,000 transfer. In a statement, Anya claimed the payment was made on August 9, 2021, directly from IPOB’s U.S.-based Chase Bank account to Ejiofor’s USD domiciliary account at Fidelity Bank in Nigeria. She described it as funds for “humanitarian and advocacy purposes” in support of Kanu’s legal representation, dismissing Ejiofor’s narrative of an erroneous payment.

IPOB has also released information about an additional N10 million payment to Ejiofor via an office manager, further challenging his assertion that he provided services pro bono.

This exchange highlights tensions within IPOB circles regarding financial accountability during Kanu’s ongoing detention. Ejiofor, who was dismissed as Kanu’s lawyer in 2022, maintains that he never accepted fees for the case and that any funds received were promptly returned. Critics, including some within IPOB, have accused him of misrepresentation, with calls for evidence to resolve the matter.

As the dispute unfolds, it underscores broader issues of transparency in advocacy groups. Ejiofor’s promised release of documents could clarify the facts, while IPOB continues to defend its financial records. Kanu remains in custody, with his trial drawing international attention to Nigeria’s handling of separatist movements.