Nnamdi Kanu Sacks Longtime Lawyer, Withdraws Authority To Represent Him Or IPOB [Documents Attached]

The jailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has formally terminated the services of his longtime lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, and withdrawn all authority previously granted to him to represent either his personal interests, his family, or the IPOB movement.

The decision was contained in a four-page letter dated July 22, 2026, and reportedly written by Kanu from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, where he is currently being held.

In the letter, Kanu stated that Ejiofor’s appointment as his personal legal representative had earlier been terminated verbally and that the latest correspondence served as formal written confirmation of that decision.

According to Kanu, Ejiofor no longer has any authority whether express, implied or otherwise to act, speak or make representations on behalf of him, his family, or IPOB.

The IPOB leader cited Section II, Subsection A of the IPOB Code of Conduct, which he said vests the exclusive power to appoint, suspend or dismiss principal officers and legal representatives in the leader of the movement, unless such authority is expressly delegated.

He maintained that any purported authority claimed by Ejiofor to continue representing IPOB was no longer recognized under the organization’s internal rules.

Kanu further directed the lawyer to immediately cease making public statements, granting interviews, issuing press releases, or publishing social media posts on behalf of him, his family, or IPOB.

He also instructed Ejiofor to stop presenting himself as his legal representative or that of IPOB in any court, public forum, or official capacity, and to take the necessary legal steps to regularize his withdrawal from any pending matters where he remains counsel on record.

The letter also addressed the handling of confidential information obtained during the course of Ejiofor’s legal representation.

Kanu warned that the lawyer was not authorized to disclose, publish, communicate, or otherwise use any confidential or privileged information acquired during the retainer without his express written consent or a lawful court order.

He added that any unauthorized disclosure or misuse of privileged information could amount to professional misconduct and may result in disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), as well as other legal remedies available under Nigerian law.

Kanu concluded the letter by reserving all his legal rights and warning that any future unauthorized representation or disclosure of confidential information would be treated as a violation of his instructions.

As of the time of filing this report, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor has not publicly responded to the letter or the directives contained in it.

The development marks another significant turn in the legal and administrative affairs surrounding the detained IPOB leader, whose ongoing terrorism trial before the Federal High Court continues to attract widespread national and international attention.