The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has raised fresh concerns about what he describes as a pattern of “serial executive and judicial fraud” in his ongoing legal battle following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021.
In an open letter to Nigerians, Kanu outlined a series of court decisions and government actions he claims have violated his constitutional rights and subverted justice in his case.
Kanu referenced a March 1, 2017, Federal High Court ruling that declared IPOB a lawful organization. According to him, the then Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami, bypassed due process by securing an ex parte order to proscribe IPOB without notice or the opportunity for defense.
“This abominable incident was the earliest sign that the government and judiciary had formed an unholy alliance to deny me my rights,” Kanu stated.
He also cited an October 26, 2022, judgment in which the court declared his rendition from Kenya unconstitutional, ordering the federal government to release him, issue a public apology, and pay compensation. “In a responsible society, this judgment would have ended my detention,” Kanu said.
On October 13, 2022, the Court of Appeal ruled that the extraordinary rendition of Kanu divested Nigerian courts of jurisdiction to try him. The court warned against “executive lawlessness” and emphasized the judiciary’s duty to protect individuals from oppressive actions.
However, Kanu alleged that the government obtained a stay of execution in a “behind-closed-doors” appeal to invalidate this ruling. “Is it not abominable for a court to stay a judgment the government had already disobeyed?” he questioned.
In a December 15, 2023, ruling, the Supreme Court acknowledged that Kanu’s bail revocation was unjust and that his detention conditions had compromised his right to a fair trial. The court ordered the case to be returned to the Federal High Court.
Despite this, Kanu claimed that the trial court failed to restore his bail and continued proceedings with the same judge he had successfully requested to recuse herself.
Kanu maintained that his refusal to stand trial under such conditions is rooted in his commitment to constitutional principles.
“If it will take the rest of my life in detention to be brought before an impartial court, so be it,” he declared. “I will not succumb to any trial conducted by a judge whose jurisdiction does not pass constitutional muster.”
Kanu’s letter ends with an appeal to the public and the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is served without political interference.
The Nigerian government has yet to respond to these latest allegations.
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