24 September 2025
“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.”
— Psalm 94:20–21 (KJV)
The trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has become a case study in how the Nigerian judiciary bends the law to serve political interests, abandoning its constitutional duty and legitimising lawlessness.
A Trial Built on Illegality
Kanu was abducted in Kenya and flown to Nigeria without any extradition process a blatant violation of international law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. By still assuming jurisdiction, Nigerian courts effectively endorsed criminal abduction as a lawful pathway to justice.
Prosecuted Under a Dead Law
The federal government continues to charge Kanu under the repealed Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, despite its replacement in 2022. Charging a man under a non-existent law isn’t just a legal blunder — it’s constitutional heresy.
Fair Hearing Trashed
For months, Kanu was denied full access to lawyers and documents, while the trial court restricted public and press presence. This isn’t justice; it’s a staged proceeding designed to cripple the defence.
Court Orders Ignored
The Court of Appeal had ordered Kanu’s release in 2022, condemning his extraordinary rendition as unlawful. By failing to enforce that ruling and instead remitting the case for trial, the Supreme Court greenlit executive disobedience and reduced the judiciary to a rubber stamp.
Normalising Extraordinary Rendition
By letting the trial continue, the Nigerian judiciary has normalised extraordinary rendition — a practice widely condemned in international law. In effect, Nigeria is saying: kidnap first, justify later.
Endless Procedural Manipulation
The prosecution has repeatedly amended charges after failed counts, a tactic that even the Supreme Court once warned against. Witnesses accused of lying under oath walked away untouched, while the court looked the other way.
Constitution in Chains
The Constitution is supposed to be supreme. Instead, in Kanu’s case, it has been subordinated to executive power. As Justice Eso warned decades ago, when governments ignore court orders, the rule of law collapses. That collapse is now in full view.
Verdict on the Judiciary
Kanu’s trial exposes Nigeria’s judiciary as compromised, complicit, and weaponised:
- Illegality — trial after unlawful rendition, charges under repealed law.
- Injustice — denial of fair hearing, secret proceedings.
- Impunity — defiance of appellate rulings, tolerance of perjury.
By “framing mischief by law” (Psalm 94:20), Nigeria’s judiciary has crossed from arbiter to accomplice, betraying its duty as the last hope of the common man.
Prepared by:
Onyedikachi Ifedi, Esq.
Consultant to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Defence Consortium
