…Criticises Sultan, alleges sharia expansion
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Fresh international attention has turned to the case of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, as a United States–based activist, Mike Arnold, calls for his release and seeks asylum and international protection for him, describing his imprisonment as politically driven.
In a report released recently, Arnold argued that Kanu — a British-Nigerian and founder of Radio Biafra — should be treated as a “prisoner of conscience,” raising concerns over due process and the broader state of Nigeria’s justice system.
Kanu was convicted in November 2025 on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment, a development the report claims is rooted in “controversial legal handling,” including his 2021 arrest in Kenya, described as an extraordinary rendition.
The document further questioned the legal basis of the prosecution, citing a 2023 ruling by an Enugu High Court, which it said undermined aspects of the case.
Drawing wider implications, the report portrays Kanu’s detention as part of what it describes as a pattern of suppression of pro-Biafra voices, contrasting it with alleged leniency toward other actors accused of incitement in parts of northern Nigeria.
It situates the agitation within the historical context of the Nigerian Civil War, arguing that unresolved grievances from the conflict continue to fuel separatist sentiments in the South-East.
While advocating a democratic resolution — including constitutional reforms and a referendum-like process — the report also makes broader and contentious claims about insecurity in Nigeria, including allegations of targeted violence against religious groups.
In a significant shift, the report extends its criticism to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, accusing him of a “selective use of authority.”
It noted his 2015 fatwa discouraging recruitment into Boko Haram but alleged a lack of sustained condemnation of other armed groups.
It also referenced remarks attributed to the Sultan at the 2021 “5th International Conference on Love and Tolerance” in Abuja regarding social media and security concerns.
Further, the report pointed to his support for Sharia arbitration panels in southern states such as Ekiti and Oyo in January 2025, describing it as an expansion of Islamic legal structures into non-traditional regions — a move likely to deepen national debate.
While the Federal Government has consistently maintained that Kanu’s prosecution followed due process, Arnold sharply disagreed, saying that evidence on the ground suggests otherwise.
The development is expected to reignite debate over justice, national unity, and the future of Nigeria’s political structure.
The report also claimed that there are strong indications of Christian genocide in Nigeria, despite denials by the government and its hired lobbyists.
