Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will be representing himself during the resumption of his trial on March 21.
Kanu’s family disclosed this Tuesday in a press statement by Prince Emmanuel Kanu.
The statement said that the IPOB Leader’s decision to defend himself was informed by his quest to get justice devoid of the usual legal impediments that had stalled his trial.
The statement read: “On Friday, 21 March 2025, when the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu resumes before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court Abuja, he would be taking the bold step of defending himself in court. This development signals a critical juncture in this case that has already exposed deep-seated concerns about the Nigerian judiciary’s handling of matters tied to the legitimate agitation for Biafra self-determination.
“The absence of traditional legal representation will dismantle the usual, ‘as my lord pleases’ constraints that govern judicial proceedings in Nigeria, that has for decades allowed the courts to brazenly subvert the cause of justice under a cloak of deference that shield rather than expose injustice. The very foundations of the institutional bias that has long plagued this case will be laid bare for the world to see.
“This decision by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu comes on the heels of successfully forcing the recusal of Justice Binta Nyako that brazenly defied the Supreme Court of Nigeria through her defective implementation of determination contained in their judgement. She was hell-bent on convicting a person for exercising a right that the laws of Nigeria stated unambiguously that he could.
“The handling of this case by the Federal Government has been marred by prejudice and unfairness from day one. Onyendu’s shift to self-defense underscores our distrust in a system perceived to be stacked against us and the cause he champions. It also places an immense burden on Justice Omotosho to uphold the principles of fair hearing, fair trial, and the rule of law—principles that have too often been undermined in this politically charged sham trial.
“The world is watching. Any failure by Justice Omotosho to ensure justice is not only done but seen to be done will further erode confidence in a judiciary already criticized for its selective application of the law. The stakes could not be higher, and the implications of this trial extend far beyond the courtroom.”
Ikengaonline had reported that Kanu’s trial was re-assigned to Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja after Justice Binta Nyako who was presiding over it recused herself from the matter.
Kanu strongly resisted an attempt by Justice Nyako to continue with the matter after the recusal.
Government bowed to pressure by reassigning the matter to Justice James Omotosho who will assume trial over it from March 21.
Kanu has been detained at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, since June 2021, when he was extraordinarily rendered from Kenya.
