Canadian Court Ruling Reignites Calls For Kanu To Face Tinubu In Court

A Canadian federal court ruling has intensified debate over the trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, after the court classified Nigeria’s two dominant political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as terrorist organisations.

The judgment, delivered on June 17 by Justice Phuong T.V. Ngo, upheld findings that both parties were involved in widespread violence and electoral misconduct, prompting fresh arguments that President Bola Tinubu should be the one standing trial.

The case before the court involved Douglas Egharevba, a Nigerian and declared member of the PDP, who sought asylum in Canada. His application was rejected after the court determined that his membership alone rendered him inadmissible under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The decision was based on evidence that the PDP, along with the APC, had engaged in acts of political violence, including murder, ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters, and other unlawful methods to obtain and keep political power.

Justice Ngo cited detailed findings from the Immigration Appeal Division showing that such activities were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern spanning many years. The court ruled that these acts were intended to intimidate the public for political advantage, meeting the legal threshold for terrorism under Canadian law.

While both parties were implicated, the ruling noted that the PDP committed the greater share of the offences and gained the most from them, particularly during its 16 years in government. The APC was also found to have engaged in similar tactics since taking office.

The judgment has fueled calls from IPOB supporters and rights advocates for a reversal of the current prosecution dynamics. They argue that the Canadian court’s findings reveal deep flaws in Nigeria’s political system, making it unjust for Kanu to remain in detention while leaders of the parties involved in the ruling continue to govern.

Kanu has been in the custody of Nigeria’s Department of State Services since June 2021 following his arrest in Kenya. He faces charges including terrorism and treasonable felony, all of which he denies. IPOB continues to push for a referendum on Biafra’s independence, but the federal government insists the movement poses a threat to national security. The latest development has renewed global attention on his case, with questions over whether justice in Nigeria is being applied fairly and without bias.