Nnamdi Kanu: Why Attempts To Frustrate Biafra Agitation Through The Nigeria Judiciary Will Fail

Nnamdi Kanu: Why Attempts To Frustrate Biafra Agitation Through The Nigeria Judiciary Will Fail 

Offer Princewill Akubunma | Biafra Writers

March 13, 2025

The Nigeria justice system is one characterized with a history of condoning and enabling unjudicious, criminal activities which includes gross human rights abuses, corruption, inefficiency, political interference, lack of access to legal representation etc . These factors contributed immensely to the nosedive of its reputation turning it into a laughing stock amongst the justice systems across the globe, rightfully so. 

Looking at the above mentioned anomalies in the system, the human rights abuses and witchhunting against supposedly citizens, from a certain region of the country, in this case the SouthEast region is responsible for the devastating reputational loses bedeviling the justice system in particular and the Nigerian state in the arena of international relations. 

Cases which has no legal implications and punishment under local or international law,  instead has political undertones which requires a pragmatic political solution and as such, should just be simply concluded and disposed of, is usually delayed by unnecessary adjournments after another using the mechanism of the pliable Nigerian judiciary system. 

For instance, the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should have been concluded since October 2017 when his court case was fixed and designated for final resolution, unfortunately the Nigerian government encouraged by its judiciary ambushed the rule and dictates of the law and due process, to illegally proscribe the IPOB movement and swiftly moved to assassinate the IPOB leader, though thanks to the stars, he survived but was forced to flee in order to save his life. Sadly, that unprecedented adventure brutally claimed the lives of 28 innocent, unarmed civilians and many more unaccounted for till date.

Fast forward to this day, whereby the case is still rendered inconclusive and rotated amongst judges by the Nigerian judiciary at the behest of the Federal government in order to frustrate the delivery of justice. Recently, the Cheif Justice of the Federation, Justice Ekun, was reported to have assigned the case to a new judge after the last one was recused for biased and prejudicial dispositions. This sums it up to three consecutive judges within the space of 9 years that could not conclude the case and deliver a sound, conclusive judgement. 

This also goes to buttress the fact that the quest for Biafra self-determination which Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the IPOB movement he leads clamor for is a legitimate one and as such cannot be armtwisted or upturned using the Nigerian judiciary, thus the tactics of delay in a bid to frustrate the agitation into submission is applied by the federal government in cahoot with the pliable judiciary. 

It is imperative to recount that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom is known for his profound outspokeness against the marginalization meted on the Easterners by the rest of the country was arrested in October of 2015 in Lagos Nigeria for his political activism, was charged of treason, and subsequently detained in Kuje maximum detention facility, Abuja until he was released on bail under the most stringent conditions known to man in April of 2017. 

Shortly after the attack on his home occurred and he was forced to England where he resides as a full-fledged citizen of the United Kingdom.

However, the federal government with impunity and disregard for international law and due process, to kidnap and extraordinarily rendition him from Kenya where he temporarily traveled for business, health related reasons. The enablers of this egregious act against international law were the federal government of Nigeria, its secret police, the British intelligence with the blessings of top elements in the political and security architecture of the Kenyan government.

Against international laws of cross border arrest and arbitrary rules, he was tortured, blind folded like a common criminal, and renditioned to Nigeria where he was immediately and solitairily confined at the Nigerian secret police (DSS) headquarters in Abuja till this moment.

It is also worth noting that the Supreme Court of Appeal on October 13th, 2022 deservedly ruled that the means through which Mr Kanu was brought to stand trial was illegal and indefensible under law, hence ordering his unconditional release and compensation for gross violations of his fundamental human rights. 

However, the federal government disregarded the court resolution, and in their cunning, deceptive way, went on to manipulate the judiciary into illegally staying an execution of a court ruling even before the adhering to its stipulations. And, reports have emerged that the judges whom delivered the judgement of 13th October 2022, have been subtly punished one way or another. 

This also demonstrates that the judges are under immense duress, and pressure from the federal government to cave and fall in line with their own agenda against the dictates of the rule of law and the constitution or else get punished. This explains the dubious nature of the judges who have handled the case of the IPOB leader so far.

Let it be known, that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a prisoner of conscience, has no case to answer as far as the Nigerian and international laws is concerned. The federal government having realized that his quest for Biafra self-determination are legitimate and cannot be subdued under the clause of treasonable felony have willfully withdrew these treasonable felony charges and replaced them with terrorism related one. 

But, the truth remains that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is a leader of the IPOB movement, which in essence and deed is a non-violent freedom fighting movement seeking Biafra self-determination through a United Nations supervised referendum not through arms struggle. 

Thus, the terrorism charges will not hold sway or upturn the rule and dictates of the law.  As far as the law is concerned Nnamdi Kanu's detention which has overtime turned incarceration is illegal. And, the quest for Biafra self-determination will and can only be solved through a well detailed and pragmatic political means not persecution, extrajudicial highhandeness, forceful disappearances, deceptions and manipulations.