A Nigerian court has ruled that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must stand trial on terrorism charges, rejecting his bid to have the case dismissed. The Supreme Court delivered its decision in Abuja on December 15, 2023, reviving a case that has gripped the country for years, as reported by AP News.
Kanu, who also holds British citizenship, argued through his legal team that his 2021 rendition from Kenya was unlawful and stripped Nigerian courts of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court rejected that view, with Justice Emmanuel Agim noting that no provision of Nigerian law supports dismissing charges on the basis of an alleged illegal transfer. The Guardian Nigeria reported that seven terrorism-related counts have now been reinstated against him.
The ruling restores charges that lower courts had previously struck out, including a 2022 Court of Appeal judgment that had ordered Kanu’s release. ThisDay reported that the Supreme Court found those earlier dismissals were in error, allowing federal prosecutors to proceed with trial preparations.
“This judgment confirms that no one is above the law, and the trial must continue in the interest of justice,” a government lawyer said after the ruling, reinforcing the state’s position that Kanu’s activities threaten national security.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions across Nigeria’s southeast, where IPOB maintains significant support. Rights groups have warned of potential unrest, while the federal government insists the trial is essential to upholding the rule of law and combating terrorism.
