Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lawyer representing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has raised concerns about Nigeria’s sovereignty in light of the country’s growing foreign debt. Ejiofor’s comments came in response to a recent incident where a French court ordered the seizure of three of Nigeria’s presidential jets in Paris.
Ejiofor criticized the federal government’s reliance on excessive foreign borrowing, warning that Nigeria’s sovereignty is at risk if the government continues its current fiscal policies. He highlighted that the seizure of the aircraft is a clear manifestation of the potential consequences of the country’s mounting debt crisis.
In his statement on Friday, Ejiofor said, “We are no longer under any illusion that Nigeria’s sovereignty is under serious threat due to escalating debt concerns. Sadly, there is a lack of adequate attention to this impending disaster among Nigerians.”
He further described the seizure of the jets, which were undergoing maintenance in Paris, as an “international disgrace,” and expressed concern that Nigeria’s increasing habit of excessive borrowing could eventually lead to the country’s assets being tied up in foreign judgments.
Ejiofor urged the Nigerian government to prioritize accountability and take measures to reduce the cost of governance to avoid further jeopardizing the nation’s financial and sovereign stability. He warned that if current borrowing practices continue, Nigeria could face severe consequences, with its assets and citizens potentially bound by foreign legal judgments.