ABUJA – Legal expert Barrister Christopher Chidera has slammed the Federal Government’s planned trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), calling it “legally flawed and unsustainable.”
According to Chidera, the case, scheduled for March 21, 2025, faces major legal roadblocks that could render it invalid. He argued that prosecuting Kanu under the repealed Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 is a direct violation of legal principles and could collapse the case before it even begins.
In a statement on Wednesday, Chidera outlined multiple challenges, including jurisdictional issues and Kanu’s controversial extradition from Kenya, which international observers, including a 2023 U.S. human rights report, have called unlawful.
“The Nigerian government may struggle to successfully prosecute Mazi Nnamdi Kanu because of several legal, procedural, and political hurdles,” Chidera said. “One of the biggest issues is the repeal of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013, the law under which Kanu was originally charged. A case cannot stand on a non-existent legal framework—it’s a fundamental flaw.”
Beyond legal technicalities, Chidera also pointed to Kanu’s extraordinary rendition, arguing that Nigeria’s failure to follow due process could invalidate the trial. Kanu’s legal team has also demanded the case be heard in the Southeast, where the alleged offences occurred, rather than Abuja.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Kanu is set to represent himself in court, a move his supporters believe will expose corruption and bias within the justice system.
Critics have described the prolonged trial as persecution rather than prosecution, pointing to his extended detention without conviction and repeated delays.
“The outcome of this case will largely depend on how Justice Omotosho interprets these glaring legal violations,” Chidera concluded. “But one thing is clear: the Nigerian government’s case against Kanu is riddled with contradictions and could crumble under scrutiny.”
