IPOB Faults Court Ruling on Nnamdi Kanu, Demands Legal Basis, Plans Further Action

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has broken its silence on the recent judgment involving its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, raising fresh constitutional questions about the court’s decision.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to clearly identify the exact legal provisions that informed Justice James Omotosho’s ruling. The group said the judgment, as delivered, contains “critical constitutional gaps” that cannot be overlooked.

IPOB said it is preparing a detailed analysis of the verdict, which will be made public in the coming days, highlighting what it considers major legal inconsistencies. It added that the findings would be presented to Nigerians as well as the international community.

According to the organisation, no weapons were tendered in court, and no witness testified that Kanu committed any offence recognised under Nigerian or international law—facts it said were evident throughout the trial.

Reaffirming its position, IPOB maintained that self-determination remains a legitimate, globally acknowledged right. It cited international charters protecting such advocacy and insisted that calls for a referendum must not be criminalised.

The group also referenced Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that no individual can be convicted for an offence not defined in a written law. It challenged Justice Omotosho to point out the specific written law under which the ruling was made and clarify whether that law remains valid.

IPOB said it will continue scrutinising the judgment line-by-line and plans to raise what it described as “serious constitutional and procedural concerns.” The organisation stressed that the implications of the ruling extend beyond IPOB, touching on issues of human rights, judicial transparency, and adherence to the rule of law in Nigeria.

The group restated its commitment to peaceful agitation and vowed to intensify diplomatic engagements with international institutions as it pursues its cause through lawful and non-violent means.