The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has urged Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to clarify the specific legal provisions behind his recent ruling on its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. In a statement by spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group stated its intention to interrogate the judgment and highlight what it describes as constitutional concerns. IPOB noted that no weapons, attack materials, or witness testimonies linking Kanu to any crime under Nigerian or international law were presented during court proceedings.
The organisation reaffirmed its stance that self-determination is a protected right under international treaties such as the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights. It argued that political agitation or calls for a referendum cannot be criminalised, adding that Kanu’s continued detention should be considered in assessing his alleged involvement in security issues in the South-East.
IPOB further cited Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits convictions for offences not clearly defined in written law. The group asked the judge to identify the specific law used in his ruling and confirm its validity. It said it will continue reviewing the judgment and raising constitutional and procedural issues, emphasizing that the case affects broader questions of human rights, judicial standards, and the rule of law.
