Tag: Kanu

 

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on Thursday, cautioned against using the Oct. 20 protest for the release of Nnamdi Kanu to undermine the ongoing court hearing and political solution to the matter.

NBA President, Mr Afam Osigwe, SAN, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, had planned to organised the protest for the release of Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Sowore, the 2019 and 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ACC), had begun mobilisation for what he called a planned peaceful protest against the detention Kanu.

However, there have also been ongoing calls for political solution to Kanu’s trial who is facing alleged terrorism offence at the Federal High Court before Justice James Omotosho.

Reacting to the planned protest, Osigwe said though NBA respects the rights of every Nigerian to demonstrate, the judicial proceedings before the court should not be undermined.

“Let me just say that the NBA as an association respects the rights of every Nigerian to demonstrate.

“The right to demonstrate, in the view of the NBA, is part of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of association.

“Now, having said that, I also recognise that with respect to the subject matter of the demonstration, that there is presently a trial going on before the court.

“And the Nigerian Bar Association will, at all times, recognise that in such situations it becomes the duty of the police to provide protection for them to ensure that either the demonstration is not hijacked by hoodlums or that it does not degenerate and lead to break down of law and order.

“But also, we must balance that against the issue of ensuring that the judicial processes which is going on before a court are not in any way undermined.

“Or that we do not unwittingly, give an impression that the judiciary cannot be trusted to do justice to matters pending before the courts,” he said.

The senior lawyer said caution should be exercised so that the trial is not politicised or the ongoing efforts to apply political discourse is not jeopardised.

“I understand that the leaders from the South-East, governors, leaders of Ohanese, etc, are presently engaging with the Federal Government about finding a possible solution to this problem.

“And the demonstration should also work in such a way as not to undermine that process and to allow these political stakeholders and leaders of thought to manage that process,” he said.

According to him, the problem with having a mob, which is what sometimes a demonstration may degenerate to, is that you may know about the beginning but you may not be able to control it.

“I appreciate Sowore’s effort to see that a political solution is found for Kanu’s continued detention.

“And I share the sentiment that the government should work to ensure that he is released.

“But the process should be handled in such a way as not to allow people who may want to infiltrate such a thing to escalate it to a point that we may not be able to control it.

“So this process that is going on; the political leaders who are trying to find a solution should be given the opportunity to continue doing what they are doing, holding hand-in-hand, consultations with the government to find a political solution to the problem,” Osigwe said.

He said the best way to resolve the issue is through the ongoing engagement by leaders from the region, than through a protest.

“But that is not to say that I do not respect the rights of those who call for demonstration.

“But it is such a sensitive matter and that the processes should be done in such a manner as not to pose a security problem or to be hijacked by miscreants.

“I understand the court has adjourned the matter to next week,” he said, adding that things should be done in order not to worsened the situation.

“Which I fear that if a demonstration gets out of hand, it could lead to that,” he said.

Osigwe said there is a need to find more constructive ways of engaging the government to secure Kanu’s release.

 

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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) committee set up to assess the health status of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has sought for more time to complete the report.

The Department of State Services (DSS)’s lawyer, Suraj Sa’ada, SAN, told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday

Sa’ada informed that the medical panel was yet to conclude its assignment.

He said the panel planned to do a thorough job and should be given adequate time.

He suggested that the committee be given another one week to enable it conclude its task.

Kanu’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, did not object to the one week adjournment sought by Sa’ada, and Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until Oct. 16.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had, in a ruling on Sept. 26, ordered the NMA President to among others, constitute a team of medical experts to examine Kanu and ascertain whether or not he is still fit to undergo his on going terrorism trial.

 

Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has written to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), praying the body to include his matter in its agenda of the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference holding in Enugu State.

Kanu, in a letter addressed to the NBA president, dated August 18, 2025 and received at the national Secretariat on August 22, 2025, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

The IPOB leader, in the letter titled: “Re: Miscarriages of Justice in the Case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” and personally signed by him, said the NBA, as one of the guardians of the legal profession and the promoter of the rule of law, cannot continue to turn its face the other way.

“Sir, my name is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), an organisation which is a lawful human right organisation registered in over 18 countries of the world with peacefully agitation for my right to self determination of Biafra Republic which is a fundamental human right of association guaranteed both in local and international laws and human rights.

“May I inform you that this is not merely a letter of a persecuted man; it is a bill of indictment against a segment of the Nigerian judiciary that has, in my case, converted courts of law into arenas of impunity.

“Audi alteram partem– the sacred maxim of fair hearing has been shattered beyond recognition.

“Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 (as amended), Sections 169 and 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, and binding international instruments like the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Article 7) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 14) have all been mutilated in my case.

“This letter sets out, in painstaking details, the catalogue of infractions that now stand as an unerasable blot on Nigeria’s legal conscience, supported by judicial authority.

“It is further compounded by the fact that multiple authoritative bodies — including the Supreme Court itself, Court of Appeal of Nigeria (which discharged me), the Federal High Court (which declared my extraordinary rendition illegal), the Kenyan High Court, UN Special Rapporteur opinions, and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) — have confirmed that I was abducted, tortured, and extraordinarily renditioned from Kenya in violation of domestic and international law.

Kanu, who listed some of the alleged infractions committed against him in the letter and three judges involved, urged the NBA to carry out thorough investigation of his claims and publish a report condemning use of civil procedures to subvert criminal law, and the resurrection of repealed statutes.

“Affirm that no Nigerian should ever again be detained by abduction or tried under a repealed law.

“Hold errant judges accountable, restoring public confidence in the Bar and Bench,” he urged.

According to him, this case is not only about me.

“It is about whether Nigeria’s judiciary is bound by law or by impunity.

“The constitution, statutes, and international treaties have all been shredded.

“The Bar cannot be silent.

“I hereby call on Nigerian Bar Association to discuss these judicial misconducts as one of your topic of discussions in the ongoing 2025 NBA annual conference going on in Enugu State.

“Qui tacet consentire videtur — he who Is silent is taken to agree.

“Silence now would make the NBA complicit in the erosion of Nigeria’s legal foundations. Thank you and God bless the NBA,” Kanu concluded.

 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has sued the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Imo, Mr Aboki Danjuma, demanding N10 billion in general damages over alleged defamation.

Kanu, in a fresh suit filed by his lawyer, Maxwell Opara, at the Abuja High Court, also demanded an award of N50 million as exemplary damages against the CP.

The IPOB leader, in the writ of summons marked: CV3179/2025, sought an award of 10 per cent post judgment interest per annum on the entire judgment sum from the date of judgment till same is fully liquidated.

He sought a declaration that Mr Danjuma’s press release published on July 25 “attributing the gruesome killings in Imo communities to IPOB/ESN (Eastern Security Network) members is false, unsubstantiated, speculative and defamatory.”

He sought “an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the defendant whether by himself or officers of the Nigerian Police Force from further making such or similar defamatory statements.

“An order of this honourable court directing the defendant to issue a public retraction and apology to the claimant in at least two national dallies and on national television.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Kanu is the claimant, Danjuma is the sole defendant in the suit dated Aug. 12 but filed Aug. 14 by Mr Opara.

Kanu, in his statement of claims, through Opara, alleged that on or about July 25, the CP, within two hours of an attack at Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma and Ndiakuwata Uno in Arondizuogu Ideato Local Government Area (LGA), issued a press release published by mainstream media, “wherein he falsely and maliciously attributed the gruesome killings in these Imo State communities to members of IPOB/ESN.”

The lawyer averred that in the press release, the defendant alleged that;
“IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu orchestrated the attacks- gruesome killings in Imo communities.”

He argued that the press release came at the time the IPOB had appealed the controversial ex-parte judicial proceeding declaring it a terrorist group at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Hence, the order is subject to appellate scrutiny making any reliance on it a matter sub judice (lis pendis),” the lawyer said.

Besides, Opara argued that Kanu is currently standing trial at the Federal High Court on an allegation of terrorism and that “the said trial is pending and undecided.”

Opara said the CP’s pronouncements were made while the matter was sub judice and therefore prejudicial to the fair trial rights of his client.

“The claimant avers that the false statement by the defendant was made without proper investigation, evidence or credible intelligence as no arrest or criminal prosecution has been initiated after the press release.”

The lawyer averred that the statements allegedly made by Danjuma had caused serious damage to Kanu’s reputation nationally and internationally.

“The claimant contends that the statements made by the defendant were defamatory, false and actuated by malice, and intended to sway public opinion against him and IPOB,” the lawyer said.

Nnamdi Kanu, Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a N60 billion suit against a social media influencer, Reno Omokri, over allegations bordering on defamation.

Kanu, in the fresh suit dated and filed on July 31, 2025, at the High Court of Enugu State by his counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, sought seven reliefs.

Ejimakor filed the case on behalf of Kanu and IPOB.

While the writ of summons marked: E/1034/2025 has Kanu as the plaintiff, Omokri is the sole defendant.

The plaintiff sought a general damages in the sum of N50 billion “for defamation, including injury to reputation, emotional distress and prejudice to ongoing judicial proceedings.

“Aggravated damages in the sum of N10 billion for the malicious and reckless publication of false statements by the defendant.

“An order directing the defendant to publish a full retraction of the defamatory statements in two national newspapers and on the defendant’s Twitter/X account within 7 days of the court’s judgment.

“An order directing the defendant to publish a public apology to the plaintiff in two national newspapers and on the defendant’s Twitter/X account, admitting to the misrepresentation of facts.”

Kanu also sought a perpetual injunction restraining Omokri or his agents from further publishing or disseminating such defamatory or prejudicial statements about him without lawful justification.

He equally sought a cost of filing the action, including legal fees and expenses incurred by him.

Besides, the IPOB leader sought “interest on all monetary awards at the rate of 10 per cent per annum from the date of judgment until full payment.”

In his statement of claim, Kanu alleged that on or about July 6, 2025, Omokri published or caused to be published, in his verified Twitter (X) account certain statements concerning him, falsely alleging that he and IPOB were responsible for the killing of soldiers, police officers, and other security personnel, as well as acts of violence attributed to so-called “unknown gunmen.”

The X handle is said to be: “hittps://x.com/renoomokri/status/1941731659499569534?t-6h_ u4 Wad7TdIViQALR9xcSw&s=19.”

The defendant, in his original post, was alleged to have said that: “Do you know how many Nigerian soldiers, police officers, customs, immigration, and prison officers, as well as NSCDC servicemen and women, have been killed by IPOB, ESN, and Unknown Gunmen in the Southeast, of which the majority have been from Northern Nigeria?”

He said the said publication further described him and IPOB as engaging in terrorist activities, including the operations of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), without lawful justification or evidence.

“The said statements are false, baseless, prejudicial, and defamatory, as they portray the plaintiff as a criminal and a terrorist, thereby injuring his reputation, character, exposing him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, and prejudicing his ongoing judicial proceedings in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/15 pending at the Federal High Court Abuja.

“Plaintiff contends that as of the date of the malicious statements (6/7/2028), no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has convicted the plaintiff of any offence involving the killing of security personnel or acts of terrorism, rendering the defendant’s assertions factually incorrect and malicious.

“The defendant’s publication constitutes prejudicial commentary on the plaintiff’s pending judicial proceedings, amounting to contempt of court and a violation of the plaintiff’s right to a fair hearing and presumption of innocence under Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigena, 1999 (as amended),” Kanu said.

He said on his behalf, his counsel had issued a pre-action notice dated July 10, 2025 to Omokri, demanding:

“A retraction of the defamatory statements in two national newspapers and on the defendant’s Twitter/X account.

“A public apology admitting to the misrepresentation of facts concerning the plaintiff

“A!written undertaking to refrain from further defamatory or prejudicial publications.”

He said Omokri, who was former Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan,;however, failed to comply with the demands in the pre-action notice, thereby necessitating the filing of the suit.

The case is yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of filing the report.

Flowerbudnews

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, played some of the Biafra Radio broadcast and videos made by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in open court to establish the allegation of terrorism preferred against him.

The broadcast and video documents, which were marked as exhibits, were tendered through the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), identified as BBB, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
BBB, who testified behind screen provided by the court, said Kanu admitted making the broadcast and the videos while being led in evidence by FG’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.

One of the radio broadcast made by Kanu on Biafra Radio on Oct. 20, 2020 during #ENDSARS Protest was played in the open court.
In the live broadcast, Kanu was heard calling on the youth to attack the police officers and soldiers anywhere they were found.

The IPOB leader, in the broadcast, called on the protesters to ambush the security personnel, snatched their guns and killed them.
Kanu, while anchoring a phone-in programme on Biafra Radio, directed the callers to kill President Bola Tinubu (who as at the time was not Nigerian president) and to burn down his hotel in Lagos.
He called on the protesters to burn down all structures and vehicles belonging to the Federal Government, including the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, the NITEL House in Marina and all police stations.
He also ordered the callers to killed Mr Nyesom Wike, who was then the governor of Rivers, anywhere he was found for alleged betrayal of the course of the people of South South and South East.
In one of the broadcast, Kanu placed a N100 million bounty for the head of Wike, the present Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He said they should go after Wike and kill him for allegedly offering a N50 million bounty for the head of a Biafran.
In the broadcast, Kanu said Wike did not deserve to live and that he deserved to die, threatening that such treatment would be visited on any governor that presided over the killings of his people.
The IPOB leader urged the callers to cause mayhem in Lagos so that the whole world would know “these are Generation 2020.”
In the course of the broadcast, one of his followers called in from the East and demanded to be assisted with guns.
In response, Kanu encouraged the caller to enlist in what he called the volunteer force where he could assist his people from the alleged killings by the “Fulani terrorists” who he said were killing their people in the farms and raping their women.
Kanu, who said he resisted being bribed to stop the struggle for the freedom of his people, said he neither had a house of his own nor a car.
According to him, I was burn to ensure that Biafra is free in our time, including the middle belt.
In the third broadcast, Kanu announced that he was placing N100 million bounty on Wike’s head and encouraged his followers to “take Wike down.”
“N100 million for anyone who can take Wike down; dead or alive. Wike is N100 million. I will pay cash. Take down Wike, I will pay you cash.
“The bounty on Wike’s head is N100 million. Get me his head, you will get N100 million. Wike offered N50 million for the head of a Biafran,” he said in the broadcast.
In the fourth broadcast which he made on May 30, 2021, Kanu declared a “total lockdown” in the South East from May 31, 2021.
He directed that all businesses and places of worship should be shut in memory of those he said died in the struggle for Biafra.
“Do not come outside tomorrow (May 31, 2021). If you value your life. I don’t care whoever you are, you must stay at home or you will regret it.
“No vehicles should be allowed to move,” he said.
In the fifth broadcast, he among others, directed his followers to kill soldiers, adding that there were guns in Edo and that such guns should be used to kill the soldiers they come across.
In the sixth recording, Kanu was shown addressing a gathering in the United State during which he solicited for guns and ammunition.
When Awomolo asked the witness what Kanu was saying in the video, BBB said the defendant was soliciting for guns to fight the Nigerian state, but that the people he was addressing were cautioning him.
In another video played in the court, Kanu was making what he called a “Special Broadcast.”
He said: “The lovers of Biafra, the lovers of freedom all over the world wherever you are hearing me, I welcome each and everyone of you to this special address.
“This is 12th day of December, 2020. The time now is 7pm in the present land of Biafra.
“We must do all we can to save ourselves from extinction. We are not going to surrender our land not today, not tomorrow.”
After he prayed in Ibo Language, Kanu said: “As I said, we are going to announce our preparedness to defend the land of Biafra.
“Having waited for many years for the governors in South East and South South to do what their counterparts did in Yorubaland and the Miyetti Allah in the north.”
He said they were ready to defend their states against “state’s sponsored extra-judicial killings…and we are sending a note of warning to all who are shedding the Biafrans’ blood… .any act by the police to kill our people will be resisted.
According to him, for years, our brothers and sisters are unable to go to farms.
He said their mothers and daughters were allegedly being raped by the invaders called “Fulani terrorists.”
The defendant, who referred to their governors as coward, said : “This very IPOB will not tolerate this.
“The invaders, we are being told, they are from Chad, Mali, Niger Republic as being told by Governor El-Rufai.”
Kanu said the Eastern Security Network (ESN) formed would be sent to the farms and bushes to combat these invaders like the Amotekun security outfit in the west and Miyetti Allah vigilante group in the north.
“We are there to defend the land of Biafra against these marauders from Sahel
“What we plan to do is not different from what Amotekun seeks to achieve in the West and Miyetti Allah are doing in the north
“I urge you to give them maximum cooperation,” he said.
According to him, our forests and bushes will be freed from Fulani killers.
“They have managed to divide us, fragment our people. No governor in the South East or South South is ready to defend our people
“They will have us to contend with regardless of whoever that is supporting them whether in the army
“I don’t want to hear that any son or daughter of Biafra has been adopted by this Fulani terrorists.
“Our leaders have compromised and that is why they are unable to come together to do it,” he added.
He said the ESN was not Biafra army.
According to him, it is the same as Amotekun and Fulani vigilante group.
“When the time comes for the army of Biafra, we will let you know
“Self defence is a constitutional right, self determination is a right under the constitution of Nigeria and International law.
“Therefore I made no apology in the pursuit of Biafra.
“In 1966, Biafrans were killed in the north over 300, 000. Right now, if you kill us, we will kill you back.
“If you come to our villages to rape our mothers or sisters, you will die in the process
“We have resolved to die for what we believe in. We are saying that enough is enough,” Kanu said in the video.
In another recording, Kanu urged other tribes in the country to learn from the experience of the Hausas, who he claimed had been totally subjugated by the Fulanis and advised that Fulanis’ invasion should be resisted.
Earlier, the witness told the court that Kanu admitted making the broadcast and the videos while his statement was being taken on July 17, 2021.
BBB said he took statement from Kanu and that in the course of the exercise, he played the recordings of the defendant’s past broadcast, which he made via his Radio Biafra, inciting his followers to engage in violence and killings
Shortly after the witness identified copies of Kanu’s recorded broadcast, which were saved in two flash drives, the court admitted them in evidence, following which they were played in court.
The court also admitted a letter of complaint, dated June 10, 2021 by the then Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, to the Director General of the DSS, demanding an investigation to the alleged terrorism activities of Kanu and his followers.
In the letter read in court by the witness, the AGF accused Kanu of encouraging the commission of series of crimes including killings, and destruction of public property
The letter cited some broadcast by Kanu where he instructed members of his IPOB and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to attack and kill security personnel and prominent individuals.
In the letter, Malami claimed among others, that Kanu’s broadcast incited his followers to kill the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmed Gulak, among others, and the burning of the house belonging to the Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
After the broadcast and videos were played, Awomolo applied to tender a copy of the recording of Kanu’s statement-writing session, which he did and was admitted in evidence.
Awomolo then applied for an adjournment to play the video said to be for about one and half hours.
Emeka Etiaba, SAN, who spoke for Kanu, did not object and Justice Omotosho adjourned until May 8 for the continuation of trial.

 

Flowerbudnews

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, played some of the ”Radio Biafra”’ broadcast and videos made by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in open court to establish the allegation of terrorism preferred against him.

The broadcast and video documents, which were marked as exhibits, were tendered through the 2nd prosecution witness (PW-2), identified as BBB, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

BBB, who testified behind screen provided by the court, said Kanu admitted making the broadcast and the videos while being led in evidence by FG’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.

One of the radio broadcast made by Kanu on Biafra Radio on Oct. 20, 2020 during #ENDSARS Protest was played in the open court.

In the live broadcast, Kanu was heard calling on the youth to attack the police officers and soldiers anywhere they were found.

The IPOB leader, in the broadcast, called on the protesters to ambush the security personnel, snatched their guns and killed them.

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Details later

 

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, banished Mrs Favour Kanu, wife of Prince Fineboy Kanu, the younger brother to Nnamdi Kanu for streaming the proceedings of the court life on her Facebook page.

Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is being prosecuted by the Federal Government for alleged terrorism charge.

Justice James Omotosho, who gave the order, after Mrs Favour admitted engaging in the act and apologised to the court, held that Mrs Favour would have been charged for contempt of court.

Although Kanu’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, also apologised on her behalf, Justice Omotosho insisted that Mrs Favour would be barred from three proceedings.

The judge expressed surprise that despite that Mrs Favour’s phone was confiscated on the last adjourned date when she was caught recording him, she still went ahead to post the video online.

” I want to hear from her. Were you not the one that I took your phone?

“I did not give order to forfeit that phone. I don’t know if she might be a wife to my brother (Nnamdi Kanu,” the judge said, but Prince told the judge that she is his wife.

The judge, who cautioned against any act that could cause delay in the trial, assured all parties in the case that justice would be served.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Details later