Nnamdi Kanu to Court: Fighting for Biafran emancipation is my fundamental right, it’s not crime anywhere on earth
….IPOB: Based on evidence produced against him in court today, the whole world can now see Nnamdi Kanu has no case to answer
Joseph Irikefe
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that his fight for the emancipation of the South-East, South-South, and parts of Benue and Kogi states is within his fundamental human rights.
Kanu stated this during resumed trial on charges related to terrorism on Tuesday before Justice James Omotosho in the court sitting in Abuja.
In a statement read out in court, Kanu emphasised that freedom fighting is not a crime anywhere in the world, including Nigeria.
The statement, which was made to the Department of State Services (DSS) in Lagos on October 15, 2015, was admitted as evidence in court.
Kanu also stated that he was interrogated by the DSS without the presence of his lawyer, which is a breach of his rights.
The court also admitted video recordings of Kanu’s interrogation and four suitcases containing personal belongings, including Biafra radio equipment, recovered from his hotel room.
The trial continues to draw attention to the ongoing debate about self-determination and human rights in Nigeria.
The Nigerian government lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, applied to the court that the statement should be read in the open court.
Meanwhile, the items recovered from MNK’s ‘BAG A’ and being presented to the court by the witness number One are:
1 Black laptop
2 Multi mix transmitter
3 Mini white note Apple iPad with pouch
4 1 grey Apple iPad with pouch
5 1 grey MacBook with pouch
6 1 grey MacBook with case
7 1 mini drone sound wave speaker
8 2 mini white speakers
9 1 large computer mouse
10 1 white adaptor
11 1 laptop adaptor
12 1 carton bag with laptop.
Meanwhile, IPOB has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom to end the trail and set Nnamdi Kanu free.
The group in a statement on Tuesday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said based on the ‘evidence’ presented in the court today against him, it should be clear to all and sundry already that Mazi Kanu has committed no crime to warrant the persecution he has been subjected to in the hands of agents of the Federal Government of Nigeria since 2015.
Kanu is facing a fresh seven-count charge of treasonable felony preferred against him by the Federal Government, in the Federal High Court, FCT Division, presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
The statement said: “To the shock and dismay of all present, including international observers, the so-called evidence consisted of four boxes containing Mazi Kanu’s personal belongings – wristwatches, a microphone, a DJ mixer (falsely labeled a transmitter), cables, Arabian perfumes purchased for his mother and mother-in-law, a brown pair of shoes, laptops, chargers, and phones. No bombs, guns, grenades, or attack plans were found—because none exist.
“This revelation lays bare the truth: there is no evidence to support the grave accusations leveled against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The items presented in court are not weapons of terrorism but ordinary possessions of a man who has consistently and openly declared his mission as a freedom fighter dedicated to the liberation of his people through peaceful means, including a referendum. Since his arrest in October 2015, Mazi Kanu has boldly and unapologetically stated his God-given purpose—to alleviate the suffering of the Igbo race and other ethnic groups in Biafraland. His resolve was reiterated even under duress, as evidenced in the interrogation videos we urge the Nigerian government to release for public scrutiny.
“We commend the presence of representatives of the United Kingdom government in court today, witnessing firsthand the baseless nature of the charges against their citizen. We also express our profound gratitude to Mazi Kanu’s new defense team, fortified with some of the finest legal minds, for their unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
‘With the utmost humility, IPOB calls on the federal government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom to end this charade masquerading as a trial. The persecution of Mazi Kanu and IPOB, which has led to the loss of countless lives, including his parents, must cease. We do not seek to humiliate any party but to affirm that IPOB’s mission is rooted in the pursuit of dignity, freedom, and a better life for Biafrans, the black race, and Africa as a whole.
“The absence of any incriminating evidence today underscores what we have always maintained: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a terrorist but a noble advocate for the oppressed. We urge all stakeholders to recognize this truth and work toward a just resolution. Let us build a future where the aspirations of all peoples are respected, and the dignity of existence is upheld for everyone.”