The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected the Federal High Court’s life imprisonment sentence for its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism-related charges. In a statement this Friday, IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful said Kanu “committed no offence known to Nigerian law” and insisted that his calls for self-determination are protected under international conventions.
He criticized the judgment by Justice James Omotosho, accusing him of ignoring Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that “a person shall not be convicted of an offence unless it is defined in a written law.” He said, “The IPOB wishes to inform the global community, diplomatic missions, international media, and lovers of freedom that we shall, in the coming days and weeks, lay bare the fundamental defects, contradictions, and illegalities that define the recent ruling issued by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
IPOB also denied any involvement in violence, stating, “For the avoidance of doubt, no gun, no grenade, no GPMG, no explosive, and no attack plan was ever found on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. None. No witness, civilian or military, ever testified before any court at any stage that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu committed any offence known to Nigerian or international law.” The group added that self-determination is not a crime, saying, “Agitation is not terrorism, and requesting a referendum is not a weapon.”
The group further questioned the legal basis for the conviction, describing it as “unconstitutional” and relying on repealed laws. IPOB announced it will respond in detail in the coming days and continue engaging international bodies on the ruling. It also reiterated its demand for a United Nations–supervised referendum for the people of Biafra.
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