Every time the Indigenous People of Biafra leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a defendant makes a recent appearance before a judge, one of the things that usually follows is a cry by the World Igbo Council calling for his release.

Wednesday 17 April was Mazi Kanu’s last court date and it was Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja who presided over the proceedings. He is being prosecuted on charges related to terrorism and has been under State Security Service custody ever since he was brought back to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 after his recapture.

In the hands of the security service, the IPOB pointsman has had his liberty remarkably curtailed and his lawyers think they can do better.

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Fixing the situation formed the basis of the World Igbo Council’s letter that Mazi Kanu’s lawyer Aloy Ejimakor shared with the press. The letter was addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly both Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass alongside the floor members of the legislative chambers.

Today, [the] World Igbo Congress writes [to you] to discuss a matter of grave concern, a scenario that tests the very foundations of our beliefs in fairness, justice, and the rule of law.

The case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not just an isolated incident but a reflection of a larger, more systemic issue that confronts not only Nigeria but nations worldwide — the struggle for self-determination and the response it provokes from the state apparatus.

In the heart of this discourse is a man who dared to voice the aspirations of his people, aspirations for self-determination, a principle enshrined in the Geneva Convention and recognized as a fundamental human right.

Yet, his pursuit of this cause has led him down a path of extraordinary rendition, prolonged detention, and a trial that has become emblematic of judicial prejudice and the denial of fundamental human rights.

The trial of Nnamdi Kanu has raised profound concerns regarding the adherence to the principles of a fair trial, the equality of arms, and the right of a defendant to prepare an adequate defence.

The Supreme Court itself has highlighted these as indispensable elements of justice. Yet, in Kanu’s case, these principles have been conspicuously disregarded.

The stark proclamation by a High Court that ‘the defendant cannot dictate to the Court on how to conduct the trial’ underscores a dismissal not just of a man’s rights but of the judiciary’s duty to fairness and impartiality.

In [light] of these transgressions against justice and fairness, we are compelled to advocate for a political solution — a solution that transcends the narrow confines of legal battles and ventures into the broader realm of human compassion, national unity, and the acknowledgement of the peoples’ right to self-determination.

Such a solution recognizes that the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu serves no constructive purpose but only deepens the divisions within our society.

It acknowledges that true peace and progress stem from dialogue, understanding, and respect for human rights, including the right to self-determination.

The Congress said the government should explore “justice and reconciliation” in Kanu’s case and should honour the rulings of courts “which have declared his detention a violation of his fundamental human rights.

At Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s next court date on Monday, 20 May, the judge is expected to decide on a recent request by his counsel asking Justice Binta Nyako to restore the bail she once granted to the defendant in 2017 based on medical reasons.

With the strict nature of his State Security Service detention, there have been complaints by the defendant’s legal representative who feel they cannot effectively prepare a defence over limited access to their client.

Although the prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria has rejected the idea, the people defending Mazi Kanu want his detention to continue from home or any other place that is different from being strapped to the SSS for up to three years while the case is taking forever.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.