Abuja, Nigeria– The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has made an impassioned call for strict adherence to the rule of law in the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). With the Supreme Court set to deliver a final judgment in December, the NBA emphasized that the legal process should be respected in determining the outcome of the treason charges against Kanu.
Nnamdi Kanu, who has been a controversial figure in Nigerian politics, was arrested and charged with treasonable felony for his role in leading the Biafra independence movement. His case has been a source of tension between the federal government and southeastern Nigeria, where IPOB commands a significant following.
Kanu was initially discharged and acquitted by the Court of Appeal, which found that his arrest and subsequent detention were unlawful. However, the federal government, dissatisfied with the ruling, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the acquittal. The Supreme Court is now expected to deliver its final judgment on December 15, 2024.
In its statement, the NBA expressed hope that the rule of law would be upheld during the court’s proceedings. “We expect the Supreme Court to maintain the rule of law, ensuring that justice is served impartially,” said an NBA representative.
The NBA’s intervention comes at a critical time as the case has gained international attention, with human rights groups watching closely. IPOB, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government, continues to push for Kanu’s release and an independent Biafran state. Kanu’s trial has raised concerns about political trials and human rights violations in Nigeria, especially given the history of the Nigerian Civil War and the ongoing agitation for Biafran independence.
Critics of the government’s handling of the case argue that Kanu’s arrest was a violation of his human rights, pointing out that he was forcibly returned to Nigeria from Kenya in a process
