By Deborah Nnamdi
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that after more than four years of trial and several amended charges, the Federal Government has yet to provide any credible or legally admissible evidence linking its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to terrorism, incitement, or acts of violence.
In a press statement released on Monday, Onyekachi Ifedi, speaking on behalf of IPOB’s Directorate of Legal Affairs, Research, and Global Communications, said it had become necessary to counter ongoing misinformation, politically driven headlines, and deliberate distortions surrounding Kanu’s legal ordeal.
Ifedi urged the public, civil society organizations, and media outlets to rely on verifiable legal facts rather than propaganda, stressing that no substantial case has been established against Kanu.
He further accused the Federal Government of persecuting Kanu under repealed laws and biased narratives, asserting that all charges brought against him were legally unsustainable.
“The Federal Government continues to prosecute our leader using laws that have been repealed, coupled with unsubstantiated claims and a media-driven narrative. This approach not only violates due process but also disregards fundamental human rights,” the statement read.
According to IPOB, despite years of proceedings, the prosecution has failed to present forensic evidence, name any victims, or produce direct testimony from alleged victims or witnesses. The group noted that some of the charges are based on laws no longer in effect, such as the repealed Terrorism (Prevention) Act of 2013 and the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) of 1958, which was repealed in 2023.
The statement also criticized procedural irregularities in the charges, particularly the substitution of legal frameworks without proper court endorsement — a move IPOB says renders the charges procedurally invalid.
Defending its legal status, IPOB emphasized that it is not an unlawful organization. It pointed to a 2017 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which confirmed IPOB’s lawful standing in a contested hearing. The group also condemned its proscription by the Federal Government, saying it was done ex parte and in violation of both constitutional and international legal standards.
IPOB dismissed attempts to associate the group or its leader with the #EndSARS protests as unfounded and defamatory, noting that official inquiries blamed security forces — not IPOB — for the violence and fatalities during the demonstrations.
The statement further described Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and subsequent transfer to Nigeria as an act of extraordinary rendition, which violates both domestic and international laws. IPOB cited established legal precedent from Nigeria’s Supreme Court suggesting that such unlawful transfer undermines the legitimacy of prosecution.
IPOB called for adherence to the principles of justice and the rule of law, urging journalists, human rights advocates, and the international community to critically examine Kanu’s case and push for a fair, transparent, and lawful resolution.
