The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has expressed doubts about receiving fair judgment from courts in Abuja, citing alleged political interference in his trial.
This revelation was made by his Lead Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, following a visit to Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja. Kanu has been held in solitary confinement there since June 2021, following his extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
According to Ejimakor, Kanu is deeply frustrated with what he describes as a lack of adherence to due process and the rule of law in his ongoing case.
“He asked us to inform the general public that he’s not expecting any favourable judgment from any court in Abuja because his cases are not decided in accordance with the rules of law but the rules of politics – dirty and deadly politics,” Ejimakor disclosed.
Kanu further criticized the legal proceedings, alleging that the laws applied in his trial conflict with Nigeria’s legal standards and international norms.
“Those benefitting from insecurity are the ones deciding what negative decisions to deliver because if justice were to be done, the well-orchestrated and heavily funded attacks and demonization of his person and his lofty mission would no longer resonate with the public,” Kanu reportedly stated.
He urged the public to scrutinize all court rulings involving him and IPOB, asserting that his trial is a “sham designed to destroy truth and justice.”
Kanu’s legal team has long raised concerns about perceived bias in the judiciary, particularly following the reassignment of Justice Binta Nyako to his case. Justice Nyako had previously recused herself amid protests from Kanu and his lawyers.
The IPOB leader’s continued detention and trial remain controversial, drawing attention from international organizations and human rights advocates who have called for adherence to legal standards and fair treatment in his case.