ABUJA, NIGERIA – 27 SEPTEMBER 2025
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has strongly condemned Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over his controversial remarks in the ongoing trial of our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
During proceedings on Friday, Justice Omotosho reportedly declared that “the defendant will need to explain certain things.” IPOB finds this statement not only legally unfounded but also a direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution and international standards of justice.
We pose this question to Justice Omotosho: Explain what exactly?
- Is the judge unaware that Section 36(11) of the 1999 Constitution clearly states that no defendant can be compelled to give evidence against himself?
- Does he not understand that under Nigerian and international law, the burden of proof rests entirely with the prosecution?
- Or is he deliberately suggesting that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu should step in to cover up for a case riddled with contradictions, lacking credible witnesses, missing investigation reports, and anchored on a repealed law?
This remark does not reflect impartial justice. It instead exposes the reality of the Abuja judiciary: a system more loyal to government dictates than to the principles of fairness. By insisting that our leader must “explain,” Justice Omotosho is not applying the law—he is aiding political persecution.
We wish to remind Nigerians and the international community that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB remain committed to truth, justice, and the right to self-determination, which is enshrined under international law, including the UN Charter. The attempt to shift the burden of proof onto an innocent man is nothing short of judicial misconduct.
We call on the global community, human rights organizations, and lovers of freedom worldwide to take note of this growing pattern of judicial compromise in Nigeria. The ongoing trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has once again become a test case for whether Nigeria’s courts can act independently, or whether they will continue to function as an extension of political repression.
The Nigerian judiciary must put an end to this charade. Justice cannot be served by intimidation, manipulation, or bias. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s only “crime” is peacefully demanding the right of Biafrans to determine their future.
Signed,
Comrade Emma Powerful
Spokesperson / Media and Publicity Secretary, IPOB
