By Our Correspondent
Bruce Fein, a United States-based attorney representing Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has formally written to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, urging the dismissal of all charges against his client.
In a letter dated October 28, 2025, Fein argued that the Nigerian court lacks legal jurisdiction to try Kanu, claiming that his rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021 was illegal and violated both international law and Kanu’s fundamental rights. Fein stated that any trial conducted under these circumstances would be invalid and that the Nigerian government should not benefit from its own wrongdoing.
He cited the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which in 2022 called for Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, and said that the trial, if continued, could expose the presiding judge to allegations of international legal violations.
The IPOB leader faces multiple charges, including terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement, all of which he has denied, insisting that the charges are politically motivated due to his activism and leadership of the separatist movement.
Earlier, Justice Omotosho dismissed a no-case submission filed by Kanu’s Nigerian legal team, stating that the prosecution had presented a prima facie case, allowing the trial to continue. Fein’s intervention, however, raises significant legal questions about jurisdiction, human rights, and the legality of Kanu’s rendition.
Legal experts have noted that Fein’s letter could influence the trajectory of the trial, especially as it highlights potential breaches of international law and calls into question the legitimacy of the court proceedings.
The case is scheduled to resume in Abuja next week, as both the prosecution and Kanu’s defense await the court’s ruling on the jurisdictional challenge. The outcome could have major implications for Nigeria’s legal system and its adherence to international human rights standards.
