The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has called on the Nigerian government and the international community to immediately end what it describes as the unlawful detention and political persecution of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said Kanu is innocent and should not be facing prosecution. The group insists that Kanu is being punished for peacefully demanding the self-determination of the Biafran people, describing him as a “prisoner of conscience.”
IPOB accused the Nigerian government of fabricating charges of terrorism and treason against Kanu in an effort to suppress the Biafran movement. According to the group, the initial treasonable felony charges were dropped years ago by former Attorney General Abubakar Malami, who acknowledged that the case lacked legal merit.
Despite this, IPOB said the government continued to manipulate the judicial system to criminalize Kanu and the group, even though a Federal High Court previously ruled that IPOB is a lawful organization. The group alleged that due process was ignored when the government obtained a proscription order against IPOB without granting the group a fair hearing, as required by the Nigerian Constitution.
IPOB also criticized the judiciary, accusing it of being used as a political tool. The group condemned the use of a civil legal process—known as a stay of execution—to overturn a criminal court judgment that had discharged and acquitted Kanu. It described this as a misuse of legal procedures and a serious violation of judicial ethics.
The group singled out Justice Haruna Tsammani and his panel at the Court of Appeal for allegedly misapplying the law to serve political interests. IPOB warned that continued misuse of the legal system could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and damage Nigeria’s image globally.
Appealing to global institutions, IPOB urged international human rights organizations, foreign governments, and legal observers to speak out against what it calls a clear case of injustice. The group emphasized that Kanu’s case is not just about one individual, but a broader issue of human rights, free expression, and the right to self-determination.
IPOB further warned the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against continuing what it described as a “dangerous and unjust campaign” against Kanu. It said that ignoring valid court rulings and international legal standards could escalate tensions and harm the country’s reputation both at home and abroad.
The group concluded by stating that it is not asking for mercy, but justice. According to IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu remains unbroken and committed to his cause, despite being in detention. “You can chain his body, but not the truth he represents,” the statement said.
