The Indigenous People of Biafra has strongly criticized the Federal Government over the ongoing trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing the proceedings as a “complete indictment” of Nigeria’s judiciary and a demonstration of the state’s misuse of legal systems.
In a statement released on Friday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said the government had resorted to desperate tactics, including what he called a baseless attempt to associate Kanu with the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
He said, “The events of June 19, 2025, mark a turning point in a case sustained from the beginning by lies, manipulated media narratives, forged evidence, and efforts to criminalize the demand for self-determination.”
According to Powerful, the prosecution, led by Chief Akinlolu Awomolo (SAN), closed its case after the cross-examination of the final witness, prompting the defence team led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) to indicate their intention to submit a ‘No-Case Submission.’ The defence argues that the prosecution failed to link Kanu to any crime, let alone terrorism.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, adjourned the matter to July 18, 2025, for the adoption of final written addresses.
“What played out in court was not just a setback for the prosecution but an open exposure of the Federal Government’s blatant abuse of judicial process,” Powerful stated.
More Read
He also condemned the prosecution’s final witness, a man identified only as PW5-EEE and described as an intelligence officer, for giving what he called a weak and inconsistent testimony during cross-examination.
“Under the cross-examination by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness crumbled. He was evasive, contradictory, and obviously unprepared. His performance was so poor that even the lead prosecutor, Awomolo, had to caution him publicly. The judge himself grew frustrated and had to compel the witness to answer direct questions,” Powerful recounted.
IPOB dismissed the Federal Government’s claim that Kanu’s broadcasts incited the #EndSARS protests as “intellectually dishonest and morally reprehensible.”
“The effort to blame Kanu for a grassroots movement that started in Delta State is not only laughable but shameful. Trying to paint him as the architect of #EndSARS reveals how far the government is willing to twist the facts,” he added.
Powerful further alleged that the prosecution failed to provide concrete evidence of the deaths of over 200 security personnel reportedly killed in the South-East.
He claimed that no names, ranks, stations, or death certificates were submitted.
“In fact, the so-called assessment report linking IPOB to security issues was not created in 2020 as claimed. It was fabricated this very month—June 2025. That alone should outrage every honest citizen,” he stated.
He also described the documents presented in court as “riddled with forgeries,” citing unsigned autopsy reports and unverifiable coroner’s certificates. “No witnesses who allegedly discovered the bodies were called. This is not a court case—it’s a poorly scripted drama,” he said.
Raising concerns about media silence, Powerful questioned why major outlets had failed to report the courtroom revelations.
“Nigerians and the international community should demand Certified True Copies of the court proceedings. Let them see for themselves how the prosecution’s case has collapsed,” he urged.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not on trial for violence; he is being persecuted for speaking against injustice. This trial is not a pursuit of justice—it is a politically motivated attack on a man advocating for a long-marginalized people.”
He concluded by calling on the global community to take note of the trial’s developments, saying, “History will remember those who kept quiet while legality was used to mask oppression—and those who chose to expose it.”
