The Indigenous People of Biafra, on Thursday, rejected the further court trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group declared its support for the October 13, 2022, ruling of the Abuja Appeal Court, which cleared Kanu of all charges brought by the Federal Government.
Since his arrest in Kenya and return to Nigeria in 2021, Kanu has been detained by the Department of State Services.
On December 15, 2023, the Supreme Court granted permission for his trial regarding the terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government. The case was then remanded to the High Court, with a hearing date set for February 8, 2024.
But the FG failed to show up for court, necessitating the case’s postponement.
In a statement on Thursday, the IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said, “Sadly, the same Federal Government that is prosecuting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is refusing to make an appearance at the same Abuja High Court hearing on February 8, 2024.
“The refusal of the Federal Government to appear in the court on that day for continuation of their trial is evident that they do not have a case against Kanu.
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“We stand by the judgment of the Appeal Court, which ordered that our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should not be tried again in any Nigerian court. The Supreme Court Judges agreed with them but lacked the courage and integrity to uphold the Appeal Court judgment.
“IPOB leadership has reviewed the actions of the Federal Government and the judiciary and totally rejected further trial of our leader in the High Court. They know very well that they have no case against him.
“The FG is just utilising the weak instrumentality of the law in Nigeria to detain and persecute Kanu indefinitely. The wicked persecution of Kanu and other innocent IPOB members will continue to destroy Nigeria’s image locally and internationally.”
The pro-Biafran group urged President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu unconditionally “because self-determination is lawful domestically and internationally”.
“We are interested in the self-preservation of Biafrans from marauding terrorists. Biafra liberation is a divine project that not even former President Muhammadu Buhari nor anyone else can stop its actualisation.
“IPOB has come to restore Biafra, and it is either Biafra or Biafra. That is our oath of allegiance to the Biafra Nation and our oath of honour to all those who have fallen in the course of our match to freedom,” the group added.
