The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a strongly worded statement reacting to the Federal Government’s cross-appeal in the ongoing legal proceedings involving its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, describing it as a “self-inflicted legal contradiction” that allegedly confirms the trial court acted without jurisdiction.
In the statement released on Saturday and signed by IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful, the group argued that the Federal Government’s Notice of Cross-Appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja effectively admitted that the court lacked jurisdiction when it imposed life imprisonment on several counts against Kanu.
According to IPOB, this alleged admission renders the sentencing process “a nullity ab initio,” insisting that jurisdiction is fundamental and cannot be partially applied.
“Jurisdiction is not divisible. Once absent at any stage, the entire proceedings collapse,” the statement read, citing the Supreme Court decision in Madukolu v. Nkemdilim (1962) to support its position.
IPOB further argued that the Court of Appeal cannot “cure” what it described as a fundamental defect in the trial process, accusing the Federal Government of attempting to “approbate and reprobate” by challenging and relying on the same judgment simultaneously.
The group also rejected the cross-appeal as an alleged attempt to strengthen the prosecution’s case, claiming instead that it demonstrates “the collapse of the entire prosecution structure.”
IPOB called on the Court of Appeal to dismiss the cross-appeal and allow Kanu’s main appeal, urging what it described as “immediate and unconditional release” of its detained leader.
The statement also contained political criticisms of government legal teams and accused authorities of attempting to pressure Kanu to abandon his Biafra agitation—claims that remain part of IPOB’s long-standing political narrative.
The Federal Government is yet to issue a detailed public response to IPOB’s latest statement at the time of filing this report.
The case involving Nnamdi Kanu has remained one of Nigeria’s most high-profile and politically sensitive legal matters, drawing attention from domestic observers and international rights groups over the years.
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