Human rights lawyer and public policy advocate, Barrister Christopher Chidera, has criticized what he described as “a politically motivated persecution” of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying the Nigerian government has failed to provide any credible evidence linking him to terrorism or violence.
Speaking during a public briefing in Abuja on Friday, Chidera said it was “a tragedy of justice” that despite years of prosecution, the Federal Government closed its case without presenting a single bullet, weapon, or victim as evidence against Kanu.
“After years of malicious prosecution, not one exhibit, not one forensic report, not one credible witness has been presented. How then can anyone in good conscience call Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a terrorist?” Chidera asked.
“No Victims, No Crimes — Only Political Fear”
The lawyer questioned the legitimacy of the government’s claims that Kanu or IPOB were behind violent attacks in the South-East, noting that no victims or eyewitnesses have ever testified in court.
“There are no victims because no such crimes ever occurred. The only victims are Kanu himself and peaceful IPOB members who have been brutalized and killed by security forces,” he said.
Chidera accused the Nigerian security agencies of weaponizing state power to suppress dissent, referencing the EndSARS protests and the findings of the Lagos State Judicial Panel that implicated security forces in the killings of peaceful protesters.
“The Real Terrorists Were in Uniform”
According to Chidera, the government’s handling of the EndSARS protests exposed the “real sources of terror” within the Nigerian state.
“Those who shot unarmed youths at Lekki Toll Gate are the real terrorists. No IPOB member fired a gun. No broadcast from Kanu led to violence. State terror has simply been rebranded as law enforcement,” he argued.
He further condemned what he called “double standards” in Nigeria’s justice system, saying the government negotiates and compensates armed groups in the North but continues to detain an unarmed political activist in the South-East.
“Political Trial in Disguise”
Chidera alleged that the trial being overseen by Justice Omotosho was “a political theatre dressed as jurisprudence,” citing statements from respected legal figures like Femi Falana, SAN, who previously remarked that Kanu’s fate would be decided outside the courtroom.
“Every fair-minded person knows that Justice Omotosho’s court is not driven by law but by political pressure. Even the judge himself admitted no violence was proven, yet he continues the trial,” he added.
He also criticized some media figures and political commentators for “legal illiteracy,” arguing that they deliberately misrepresent Kanu’s charges for propaganda purposes.
“The Real Fear Is Losing Access to Nigeria’s Loot”
Chidera claimed that the relentless attacks on Kanu’s image are driven by economic fear, not national security.
“They fear the day Kanu will end their access to petro-dollar loot. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu represents accountability and justice — virtues that threaten Nigeria’s corrupt elite,” he said.
Calls for International Action
Concluding his statement, the lawyer demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in compliance with the Court of Appeal’s judgment of October 13, 2022, which had ordered his release.
He also called for:
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An international inquiry into state-sponsored violence and false prosecutions against IPOB members.
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Sanctions against officials complicit in Kanu’s continued detention.
“This case is not about terrorism. It’s about truth versus tyranny. The lies have collapsed, and the world must now see through the deception,” Chidera said.
About the Speaker
Barrister Christopher Chidera is a Nigerian human rights lawyer and public policy advocate known for his work in civil liberties and judicial accountability. He has been a vocal critic of government overreach and the suppression of political dissent in Nigeria.
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