The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has stated that he is prepared to remain in detention for the rest of his life unless he is given a fair trial before an impartial judge.
Kanu, who has been in custody since 2021 following his controversial extradition from Kenya, made this declaration in an open letter, where he accused the Nigerian government and judiciary of conspiring to deny him justice.
The IPOB leader, currently facing terrorism-related charges before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja, lamented what he described as “serial executive and judicial fraud” against him since his arrest.
In the letter, Kanu claimed that his case has been deliberately kept away from judges known for impartiality, to prevent rulings that could go against the federal government. He cited past court decisions that favored him, including the Appeal Court’s 2022 ruling which discharged and acquitted him, as well as a Federal High Court judgment that declared his detention unconstitutional and ordered his release.
Kanu further criticized the process by which IPOB was designated a terrorist group, arguing that the government bypassed legal procedures. He said the proscription was secured through an *ex parte* ruling, without giving him or IPOB a chance to defend themselves.
Kanu also referenced the Supreme Court’s December 2023 decision, which sent his case back to the High Court for trial but noted that his bail should not have been revoked. Despite this, he remains in detention.
Expressing his frustration, he stated: *“If it will take the rest of my life in detention to produce me before a proper and impartial court, so be it. But I will not succumb to any trial conducted by any judge or court whose jurisdiction does not pass constitutional muster.”*
His legal battle has sparked widespread debate, with his supporters calling for his release while the federal government maintains its stance on prosecuting him for charges related to terrorism and secessionist activities.
Justice Nyako, who initially recused herself from the case in 2024, was later reinstated by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho. Most recently, she adjourned the case indefinitely.
As Kanu’s detention continues, tensions remain high among his supporters, who see his prolonged imprisonment as a politically motivated attempt to suppress the Biafran movement.
