Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has strongly condemned the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), accusing the Nigerian government of denying him a fair trial. Sani’s remarks come after an indefinite postponement of Kanu’s trial by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which has left the IPOB leader’s legal future uncertain.
In a statement posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Sani criticized the postponement, referring to the ongoing situation as a grave injustice. He emphasized that the government’s approach to Kanu’s case was not just unfair but also detrimental to the pursuit of justice in the country.
“Keeping a man in prolonged detention and postponing his case indefinitely is totally unfair,” Sani wrote, stressing that such treatment contradicted the principles of justice. He added, “I know there are sentiments and fears, but injustice is not the way to justice.”
Sani, who has a history of speaking out on human rights and justice-related issues, further shared his personal experience of prolonged detention, shedding light on the psychological and emotional toll it can have. “A problem can’t be solved by stopping the clock,” he remarked, drawing from his own time in prison to highlight the deep emotional and psychological effects of isolation. “Until you experience the cell, you will never know the cell,” he stated poignantly.
The call for a fair trial of Nnamdi Kanu comes at a time when his legal battles have continued to garner widespread attention and controversy. The IPOB leader, who has been in detention for over two years, faces terrorism charges linked to his advocacy for an independent Biafran state. His arrest and subsequent detention have sparked widespread debate and protests across the southeastern part of Nigeria, where support for Kanu’s cause remains strong.
The latest legal setback for Kanu occurred on February 10, when Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court adjourned his trial indefinitely, marking a new chapter in the leader’s prolonged legal saga. This development came after a dramatic sequence of events in which Kanu had previously demanded that Justice Nyako recuse herself from the case, citing concerns over impartiality. Despite Kanu’s request, Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, ordered that Nyako continue presiding over the case, sparking further controversy.
Justice Nyako’s recusal from Kanu’s trial was a significant turn of events last year, as it followed a highly publicized standoff between the court and the IPOB leader, who voiced strong dissatisfaction with the conduct of the proceedings. Kanu had insisted that he could not receive a fair trial under Nyako’s leadership, but his appeal for a new judge was rejected by the Chief Justice.
The refusal to reassign the case has deepened the controversy surrounding Kanu’s detention, with critics arguing that the decision reflects a lack of transparency and fairness in the judicial process. Sani’s statements, in light of these developments, underscore the growing calls for a more equitable approach to the handling of Kanu’s legal matters.
Kanu’s legal team has consistently maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated, accusing the Nigerian government of using the terrorism charges as a pretext to silence his push for the realization of an independent Biafra. In contrast, the government has remained firm in its stance, emphasizing the need to address Kanu’s actions, which it describes as threatening to national security.
Supporters of Kanu have long argued that his detention without a timely trial is a violation of his constitutional rights, and they have pointed to his deteriorating health as evidence of the cruelty of his prolonged imprisonment. Human rights groups have also condemned the government’s treatment of Kanu, calling for his immediate release or a fair and transparent trial.
The controversy surrounding Kanu’s case is not only a legal matter but also a deeply political one. For years, Kanu has been at the center of the Biafran independence movement, which advocates for the creation of a separate nation in southeastern Nigeria. This movement, which is seen by many as a challenge to the country’s political stability, has been the subject of intense government scrutiny and repression.
However, there is also a significant portion of the Nigerian population, particularly in the southeast, that continues to support Kanu’s vision. For them, his detention has become a symbol of the broader struggle for greater autonomy and recognition within the Nigerian federation. These supporters argue that the government’s refusal to grant Kanu a fair trial is part of a broader attempt to stifle dissent and suppress regional aspirations.
As the legal battle drags on, calls for Kanu’s release continue to grow louder. Many Nigerians, including public figures like Shehu Sani, have expressed concern that the continued detention of the IPOB leader without a fair trial may deepen the divisions within the country and undermine trust in the judicial system.
