A Report According to NaijaBlog States That The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared that the ongoing trial of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has effectively collapsed following what it describes as a decisive legal blow dealt to the prosecution by Kanu's defence team.
In a statement signed by IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group referenced the legal reply filed on July 14, 2025, by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) and other Senior Advocates, which responded to the Federal Government’s opposition to Kanu’s No-Case Submission.
IPOB asserted that the prosecution, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), has failed to establish even a prima facie case against Kanu, leaving the state’s case “hollow, unprovable, and offensive to criminal justice principles.”
The statement highlighted several grounds on which IPOB believes the case has collapsed:
Unanswered Legal Points: IPOB noted that the prosecution did not respond to critical legal issues raised by the defence, such as the absence of any victims, lack of forensic evidence, and the hearsay nature of all testimonies. According to IPOB, in law, such silence is tantamount to admission.
Edited Recordings, No Evidence of Incitement: The only evidence tendered against Kanu, IPOB said, are edited and unauthenticated audio clips with no witnesses claiming to have been incited.
False Importation Allegation: The group described the allegation of transmitter importation as “fabricated fiction,” pointing out that no documentation or credible evidence was produced by the prosecution to support the claim.
Burden of Proof Manipulation: IPOB accused the prosecution of attempting to reverse the constitutional burden of proof by expecting Kanu to explain his alleged statements, which they described as a violation of his right to the presumption of innocence.
Defective Charge Sheet: IPOB argued that some charges were amended after the trial commenced, rendering them constitutionally defective and robbing the court of jurisdiction.
No Victims, No Crime: The statement emphasized that no Nigerian has come forward to claim harm resulting from Kanu’s actions or alleged broadcasts.
Concluding, IPOB called on Justice Omotosho to dismiss the charges and acquit Kanu, warning that “the Nigerian judiciary is on trial as much as our leader.” The group urged the international community, civil society organizations, and the media to scrutinize the legal arguments presented by the defence.
“There is no case to answer. There is nothing to defend. There must be an acquittal,” the statement read.
IPOB insisted that the ongoing trial is driven by “political vengeance” rather than justice, adding that history would judge those who either stood for or against justice at this critical juncture.
