The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group proscribed by the Nigerian government, has raised serious allegations against the Federal Government over the ongoing trial of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Gists9ja reports that the group claims that the prosecution has introduced a fabricated and unqualified individual as a key witness in a bid to manipulate the legal process.
In a strongly worded statement released by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group described the inclusion of a new prosecution witness—identified only as “Prosecution Witness BBB” (PW-BBB)—as a deliberate ploy by the government to mislead the court and derail the pursuit of justice.
According to IPOB, the witness has no credible ties to the Department of State Services (DSS), the agency responsible for Kanu’s arrest and detention. The group further alleges that the witness was hastily trained to impersonate an informed insider with the aim of misleading the judiciary.
“This latest charade is a disgrace to any legitimate legal process,” the statement read. “PW-BBB is not and has never been an employee of the DSS. Under cross-examination, he exposed his ignorance of basic facts and frequently resorted to evasive responses such as ‘I don’t know’ and ‘It’s not my job.’ This is the behavior of someone who has been coached to deceive, not inform.”
IPOB expressed outrage over what it described as a “trial by ambush,” claiming the prosecution did not include the name of PW-BBB in the original witness list submitted to the defence team—an omission it said constitutes prosecutorial misconduct and a violation of fair trial standards.
The group called on Justice James Omotosho, who is presiding over the case, to recognize the alleged procedural abuse and take appropriate measures to protect the sanctity of the judicial process.
IPOB also accused the government of weaponizing the legal system against Nnamdi Kanu in order to prolong his detention and suppress dissent. “This is not a fair trial. It is a political persecution dressed in the garments of law,” the statement said.
The organisation reiterated concerns about Kanu’s solitary confinement, noting that both independent human rights observers and UK consular officials who visit him have confirmed the severe conditions of his detention under the DSS. IPOB insists that no fabricated testimony can conceal the truth of Kanu’s mistreatment.
“This so-called witness is a mercenary—an actor, not a professional. He was strategically groomed to act as though he understands the workings of the DSS, but under scrutiny, he has repeatedly demonstrated a lack of basic knowledge,” the statement added.
IPOB vowed to reveal the full identity and alleged role of PW-BBB, while urging the international community and global human rights organizations to closely monitor the developments and hold the Nigerian government accountable for what the group describes as systematic injustice.
The statement concluded with a renewed call for Kanu’s unconditional release, asserting that the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary and the nation’s democratic principles are on trial just as much as Kanu himself.
“Attempting to legitimize the words of a coached impersonator is not only an affront to justice but also a blatant insult to the Nigerian judicial system,” IPOB declared. “We call on responsible media organisations to uphold journalistic integrity and resist being used as channels for spreading government-sponsored misinformation. The stakes for truth and constitutional order have never been higher.”
