The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned the scheduled resumption of the trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 29, 2025.
In a statement issued by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group described the ongoing trial as a violation of both the Nigerian Constitution and international legal standards. IPOB demanded Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release, urging the international community and human rights organizations to intervene.
The group maintained that Kanu’s 2021 arrest in Kenya and subsequent transfer to Nigeria breached lawful extradition procedures. Citing Sections 35(1) and 36(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as international treaties like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), IPOB argued that Kanu’s rights to personal liberty and a fair hearing were grossly violated.
IPOB also referenced court rulings, including the ECOWAS Court decision of July 2021 and the Nigerian Appeal Court judgment of October 2022, which reportedly discharged Kanu. The group accused the Nigerian government of disregarding these rulings.
Appealing to the senior advocates on Kanu’s legal team, IPOB urged them to uphold the rule of law and reject what it termed an “unlawful trial.”
The group concluded by calling on the Nigerian judiciary to maintain its independence and warned that history would judge those who fail to uphold justice.
Nnamdi Kanu, who was first arrested in 2015, continues to face charges that have attracted significant local and international attention, with widespread concerns about human rights and due process.
