IPOB Alleges Nnamdi Kanu Is Being Tried Under Repealed Laws, Says No Evidence of Terrorism
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused the Federal Government of persecuting its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, using repealed laws and without presenting any credible evidence to support terrorism charges against him.
In a statement released by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB claimed that Kanu is being prosecuted under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act of 2013, which has been repealed and replaced by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The group argued that this renders the charges against him legally invalid and amounts to what it described as “judicial terrorism.”
“Nnamdi Kanu is being tried under laws that are no longer operational. This is a gross abuse of the rule of law and an attempt to use the judiciary to silence a peaceful agitator,” the statement read.
According to IPOB, a Department of State Services (DSS) operative who recently testified in court admitted that no arms, ammunition, or explosives were recovered from Kanu or any of his associates.
The group said only household and electronic items such as wires, phones, and DJ equipment were reportedly seized.
“These items have no connection whatsoever with terrorism. The Nigerian government has failed to present any shred of evidence to justify the continued detention and trial of our leader,” IPOB stated.
The group also reiterated its position that Kanu’s arrest and transfer from Kenya to Nigeria in 2021 amounted to extraordinary rendition, a process it says is illegal under international law. It maintained that such an act robs the Nigerian government of the legal basis to prosecute him.
IPOB called on the judiciary to strike out the case, warning that the ongoing trial has become a tool of political oppression. It urged local and international human rights organizations to closely monitor the proceedings, adding that the trial should be live-streamed to ensure transparency and prevent what it described as “a secretive and unjust process.”
Kanu remains in custody as his legal team prepares for the next phase of the trial, insisting that his continued detention is unlawful and politically motivated. IPOB continues to demand his unconditional release, declaring him a prisoner of conscience.
Meanwhile, insecurity continues to plague the South-East region, where violence linked to pro-Biafra agitation has resulted in hundreds of deaths since 2021.
IPOB has denied responsibility for the violence, blaming it on impostors and government-backed elements seeking to tarnish the group’s image.
