The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has stated that, despite more than four years of legal proceedings and several revised charges, the Federal Government has failed to produce any credible or admissible evidence linking its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to terrorism, incitement, or violence.
In a statement released on Monday by the group’s Directorate of Legal Affairs, Research and Global Communications, spokesperson Onyekachi Ifedi condemned what he described as deliberate misinformation, politicised media narratives, and factual distortions surrounding Kanu’s ongoing trial.
He urged the media, civil society organisations, and the general public to focus on verified legal facts instead of government propaganda. Ifedi argued that the case against Kanu lacks substance and is being driven by outdated legal frameworks and biased narratives.
“The Federal Government continues to rely on repealed laws and unfounded allegations to prosecute our leader. After years in court, no victims have been named, no forensic evidence has been presented, and there’s been no direct testimony from alleged victims,” Ifedi said.
He cited that some charges—including the alleged importation of a transmitter in 2015—are legally baseless, noting that the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) used to support the charge was repealed in 2023. He also pointed out procedural flaws in the handling of the case, including failure to properly endorse charge amendments.
The group reaffirmed that IPOB is not an illegal organisation, referencing a March 1, 2017 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, which declared IPOB a lawful entity during a hearing where both parties were present. That judgment remains unchallenged.
IPOB further rejected any attempts to associate the group or its leader with the #EndSARS protests, calling such claims defamatory. It referenced findings from the Lagos State Judicial Panel, which held security forces—not IPOB—responsible for the violence during the protests.
The statement also described Kanu’s 2021 arrest in Kenya and transfer to Nigeria as an illegal act of extraordinary rendition, violating Nigerian and international laws, including the African Charter. The group noted that Nigeria’s Supreme Court has ruled in the past that such violations can invalidate prosecutions.
IPOB concluded by urging journalists, human rights advocates, and the global community to demand fairness and transparency in the case, stating, “Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.”
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