By Our Correspondent
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has released additional information regarding a $19,000 payment it claims was made to lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who previously served as a member of the legal team representing detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.
The disclosure comes amid an ongoing disagreement over whether Ejiofor received financial compensation for his legal services in Kanu’s case.
According to IPOB, the payment was transferred on August 9, 2021, shortly after Kanu was returned to Nigeria following his arrest abroad.
The group stated that the transfer was made from an IPOB account held with JPMorgan Chase in the United States and sent to a U.S. dollar domiciliary account belonging to Ejiofor’s law firm at Fidelity Bank in Lagos. IPOB explained that the beneficiary account was registered under Ben I. Ejiofor & Company, and that the payment reference described the transaction as “Humanitarian and Advocacy Payment.”
The pro-Biafra group further stated that the transaction included about $50 in wire-transfer charges, bringing the total transaction value slightly above the stated amount.
IPOB said it decided to release bank transaction details and other supporting records in order to promote transparency about funds used in connection with Kanu’s legal defence and related advocacy efforts.
In addition to the $19,000 transfer, IPOB claimed that other financial support had been provided in the past.
The group alleged that ₦10 million was paid through Ejiofor’s office in 2021 to support legal activities surrounding Kanu’s case. IPOB also referenced a separate payment allegedly involving Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mike Ozekhome, though details about that arrangement were not fully clarified in the latest disclosure.
However, Ejiofor has strongly disputed the claims. The lawyer has maintained that his legal representation of Nnamdi Kanu was pro bono, meaning he did not charge professional legal fees for the services he provided. He has also challenged anyone claiming he received payment to present verifiable proof publicly.
The disagreement has drawn significant attention within pro-Biafra circles and among observers of Kanu’s case. As the controversy continues, the issue highlights internal tensions over financial transparency and the management of legal resources connected to the ongoing legal battle involving the IPOB leader.
