On August 18, 2025, a member of the legal team defending Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Onyedikachi Ifedi Esq., articulated strong legal arguments demanding Kanu's release from detention. In a statement, Ifedi criticized what he termed “government-sponsored propaganda” labeling IPOB a terrorist organization, noting that a Canadian federal court recently designated Nigeria's ruling APC and the opposition PDP as terrorist groups, highlighting a perception that justice is under threat.
The lawyer underscored that Kanu was illegally abducted from Kenya in June 2021 in breach of Nigerian and international law, citing a Nigerian Court of Appeal ruling that nullified Kanu’s trials on grounds of lack of jurisdiction. He labeled the current prosecution as baseless, emphasizing that the charges rely on repealed terrorist legislation and that there was no credible evidence linking Kanu to violence or criminal acts.
Ifedi also noted that suppressing free speech through criminal charges violates constitutional protections. He criticized the Nigerian Supreme Court’s decision to remit Kanu’s case for trial despite the appeal court’s acquittal, calling it a breach of legal principles including the prohibition of double jeopardy.
The lawyer called on the Nigerian government to respect judicial rulings and cease what he described as theatrical legal proceedings. He insisted that IPOB is demanding justice, not a pardon, asserting that history and law favor Kanu’s freedom.
This development represents a key moment in the politically charged legal battle surrounding Nnamdi Kanu’s detention.
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