The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly criticized the ongoing trial of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as an outright violation of Nigeria’s constitution and international legal standards. The group labeled the trial as “judicial terrorism” and a dangerous move that undermines the rule of law and natural justice.
In a statement released by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group expressed serious concerns about what it called the government’s deliberate flouting of both local and international court decisions.
According to IPOB, “We call on all lovers of freedom, justice, and the rule of law both within Nigeria and across the globe to stand against this travesty of justice and demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
Kanu’s court hearing resumed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, even as the controversy surrounding his arrest and continued detention grows. IPOB claims that Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and forced return to Nigeria in June 2021 amounts to illegal abduction, violating Nigeria’s commitment to international treaties.
“The Nigerian government’s pursuit of this trial is an act of lawlessness,” said Powerful. “Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021, without due process or fair hearing, constitutes a criminal act of kidnapping and a breach of international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory.”
The group also pointed to previous legal rulings, such as the July 2021 ECOWAS Court decision and the October 2022 ruling from Nigeria’s Appeal Court, which both supported Kanu’s release. IPOB believes continuing with the trial disregards these judgments, casting doubt on the country’s legal integrity.
“Mazi Kanu was denied access to consular assistance and legal representation during his rendition, further compounding the illegality of Nigeria’s actions,” Powerful added. He noted that the inhumane treatment reported during Kanu’s detention further violates international human rights conventions.
The statement also reminded senior lawyers in Kanu’s legal team of their duty to stand firmly on the side of justice. IPOB warned against legitimizing a trial it considers “void from the beginning,” and described any further legal proceedings as aligning with terrorism, under Nigeria’s own Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act of 2022.
The group noted that Kanu had previously survived an assassination attempt, which prompted him to flee Nigeria. “There is no law, whether in Nigeria, on earth, or in heaven that sanctions the kidnapping of a person who escaped such a grave threat,” the statement read.
