IPOB Slams UK And NBA For Silence Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Detention

The Indigenous People of Biafra has accused the United Kingdom government and the Nigerian Bar Association of turning a blind eye to what it described as the continuous mistreatment of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement released on Monday by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, the group expressed anger that both the UK and Nigeria’s top legal body had refused to speak out against what it called judicial manipulation and abuse in Kanu’s ongoing trial. IPOB said their silence represented a betrayal of justice and a mockery of the rule of law.

According to the group, Kanu’s prolonged detention reflects how Nigeria’s judiciary has abandoned fairness and due process. IPOB alleged that the courts had relied on obsolete laws and questionable witnesses to justify the continued trial of its leader, who it claims was denied legal representation during crucial hearings.

The group also faulted the decision to keep Justice Binta Nyako on the case, saying her return to preside over the matter despite alleged bias further damaged public confidence in the judiciary. It said the court’s handling of the case had reduced trust in Nigeria’s legal system and created the impression that justice no longer serves all citizens equally.

IPOB criticized the British government for failing to protect Kanu, a UK citizen, accusing it of hypocrisy for remaining silent while one of its nationals faces what it described as unfair treatment. It questioned why the UK, known for promoting the rule of law globally, had ignored what it called open violations of legal and human rights principles in Nigeria.

Turning to the Nigerian Bar Association, IPOB said the body had lost its moral courage by refusing to challenge injustice. It accused the association of watching quietly while court processes are allegedly being manipulated and claimed that its inaction is eroding public trust in the legal profession.

The group urged both the UK government and the NBA to demand fair treatment for Kanu and defend the principles of justice they claim to uphold. IPOB said the continued silence of those who should speak out has exposed the moral decay within Nigeria’s justice system and warned that history would remember those who looked away while injustice prevailed.