The Indigenous People of Biafra has rejected Thursday’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentencing its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment.
In a statement on Friday, spokesman Emma Powerful insisted Kanu “committed no offence known to Nigerian law,” arguing that his agitation amounted only to self-determination protected under international conventions.
Powerful criticised Justice James Omotosho for allegedly ignoring Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that no one can be convicted of an offence not defined in a written law. He said IPOB would soon expose what it described as defects and contradictions in the ruling.
The group stressed that no weapons, explosives or attack plans were ever linked to Kanu and argued that the Federal Government continues to criminalise self-determination. It further claimed that insecurity in the South-East worsened while Kanu was in DSS custody, insisting incidents recorded during that period could not be attributed to him.
IPOB also questioned the legal basis of the conviction, alleging reliance on repealed provisions and accusing the judge of ignoring binding precedents. It reiterated its demand for a UN-supervised referendum and vowed to engage international bodies on the matter.
Gmart News reported that Justice Omotosho convicted Kanu in absentia, ruling that his Radio Biafra broadcasts, sit-at-home directives, and alleged links to Eastern Security Network attacks amounted to terrorism.
