The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has given the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum to list the appeal of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, or risk a boycott of the 2027 election in the South-East and other parts of ‘Biafraland’.
The ultimatum was issued on Monday by Head of IPOB Directorate of State, DOS, Mazi Chris Nwaogu, in a video broadcast.
Nwaogu’s statement comes after Kanu’s family raised concerns over the delay in hearing the IPOB leader’s appeal against his conviction.
The family said Kanu had written the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, and the President of the Court of Appeal, requesting the immediate listing and hearing of his pending cases, citing prolonged delays in proceedings concerning his continued detention, conviction and life sentence.
In the video, Nwaogu accused the Nigerian government of avoiding court after rushing to convict Kanu.
“The Federal Government has not filed a Respondent’s brief, they have not listed the appeal, they have not come to court. A country that rushed to convict is now too frightened to defend the conviction,” he said.
“We are giving them 14 days to list Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal, if they refuse, we will consider boycotting the coming elections across Biafraland and beyond. A government that cannot face its Court of Appeal has no right to demand our votes.”
Nwaogu also faulted the Supreme Court judgment which overturned Kanu’s discharge and acquittal by the Court of Appeal.
He alleged that Justice Lawal Garba, JSC, crossed a constitutional boundary in the judgment by making affirmative findings on counts that had already been quashed.
“Correcting an error over whether the trial court still exists as a court does not give the Supreme Court the power to create, restore or confer jurisdiction over charges that had already been extinguished,” he said.
“A court can declare jurisdiction that already exists, it cannot manufacture jurisdiction that has ceased to exist.”
Nwaogu claimed the Supreme Court acted to keep Kanu in detention.
“They fear a free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. They fear his influence, they fear a man who will not trade Biafra so they keep him in Sokoto and hide from their own court. In 14 days, list the appeal, hear it, defend it if you can,” he added.
