IPOB: Federal Government Has No Credible Evidence Against Nnamdi Kanu After Four Years of Trial
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that the Federal Government has failed to produce any credible or admissible evidence directly linking its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to terrorism, incitement, or violence—despite more than four years of legal proceedings and multiple amended charges.
In a press release issued on Monday by the group’s Directorate of Legal Affairs, Research and Global Communications, Onyekachi Ifedi described the ongoing prosecution as a politically motivated campaign built on misinformation and procedural abuse.
He urged the public, media outlets, and civil society organisations to rely solely on verified legal facts and not propaganda, reiterating that no substantive case has been made against Kanu in court.
“Despite over four years of trial and multiple amended charges, the Federal Government has failed to present any credible or admissible evidence directly linking Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to any act of terrorism, incitement, or violence,” the statement read.
Ifedi added that the Federal Government continues to rely on outdated and repealed laws to press charges, calling the case legally incompetent.
“All charges were filed under laws repealed in 2022. Nigeria’s Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2013 is no longer in force. Even the claim that Kanu imported a transmitter in 2015 to promote terrorism is flawed — no customs or regulatory documentation was presented, and the relevant statute, CEMA, was repealed in 2023,” he stated.
According to IPOB, the Court’s shift from charging Kanu under the criminal code to the now-repealed Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) was not properly recorded in the official charge sheet, representing a fatal procedural error.
The group also argued that it is not an unlawful organisation. It referenced a 2017 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which declared IPOB a lawful society — a judgment that remains unchallenged to date.
“The proscription of IPOB was secured through an ex parte motion, without giving us a hearing. This undermines the Nigerian Constitution and international law,” IPOB noted.
The group further distanced itself from the #EndSARS protests, saying claims linking IPOB to the movement were “false and defamatory.” They cited the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry, which blamed security forces, not IPOB, for the violence that erupted during the protests.
The statement also described Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and return to Nigeria as a clear case of “extraordinary rendition,” which violates domestic and international legal standards.
“Kanu was abducted in Kenya and brought to Nigeria without any extradition hearing. This act of extraordinary rendition is illegal under Nigerian law, the African Charter, and international norms. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has long held that such conduct can void prosecution,” the group said.
IPOB concluded by calling on journalists, human rights advocates, and the global community to scrutinise the legal process and advocate for justice based on truth and the rule of law.
“Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done,” the statement concluded.
