The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly criticized the Federal Government over claims that it spends more than N500 million on each court appearance of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The group has called this an unjust burden on Nigerian taxpayers and an example of financial mismanagement.
In a statement released by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB described the reported spending as a strategy to divert public funds under the pretense of legal expenses. The group alleged that security agencies and some judicial officials were taking advantage of Kanu’s court proceedings for personal financial gain.
“It is an outrageous travesty that every court appearance of our leader, a mere five-minute drive from the DSS dungeon where he is unjustly held, costs Nigerians over N500 million,” IPOB stated.
The organization further claimed that since Kanu’s detention in June 2021, the government has spent approximately N5.5 billion on his court appearances. Despite these large sums, IPOB noted that Kanu remains in custody under difficult conditions. The group also pointed out that he has been wearing the same outfit since his arrest, suggesting that his basic rights were being ignored.
IPOB has called on the international community and human rights organizations to take notice of the situation. They described the spending as a “criminal enterprise masquerading as governance” and urged global bodies to intervene.
The accusations come amid ongoing calls for Kanu’s release and concerns about his treatment while in detention. Many observers believe that the high costs associated with his court proceedings raise serious questions about transparency and accountability in government spending.
