The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally terminated the services of his longtime personal lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, directing him to immediately stop representing him, his family or the separatist group in any capacity.
Kanu conveyed the decision in a letter dated July 22, 2026, which he wrote from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, where he is currently being held. In the letter, he said Ejiofor’s appointment as his personal legal representative had already been ended verbally and that the latest correspondence was intended to formally confirm the decision in writing.
The development marks a significant change in Kanu’s legal team after several years of Ejiofor serving as one of the most visible lawyers representing the IPOB leader during his prolonged legal battle with the Federal Government.
Kanu also withdrew what he described as any authority previously granted to Ejiofor to act for or represent IPOB, insisting that the lawyer no longer had any express, implied or apparent authority to speak or act on behalf of the organisation.
According to the IPOB leader, any claim by Ejiofor to represent the group or make public statements in its name should no longer be recognised.
In the letter, Kanu cited provisions of the IPOB Code of Conduct, arguing that only the leader of the organisation has the power to appoint, suspend or dismiss principal officers unless that authority has been expressly delegated.
He specifically referred to Section II, Subsection A of the code, maintaining that no committee, individual or former office holder acting outside the organisation’s rules could validly appoint or retain legal representatives for IPOB.
Based on that provision, Kanu declared that Ejiofor no longer had any mandate to represent either him or the group.
He directed the lawyer to immediately stop issuing public statements, granting media interviews, releasing press statements or making social media posts on behalf of him, his family or IPOB.
Kanu also instructed Ejiofor to stop presenting himself as his lawyer or the legal representative of IPOB in any court, public forum or official engagement.
In addition, he directed the lawyer to take the necessary legal steps to withdraw from all pending matters where he remains counsel of record on behalf of Kanu or the organisation.
The IPOB leader also warned against the disclosure or use of confidential information obtained during the period Ejiofor served as his lawyer.
He stated that the former counsel was no longer authorised to disclose, publish, communicate or use any confidential or privileged information acquired during the course of the legal relationship unless required by law or authorised by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to Kanu, any such disclosure would require his express written approval.
He warned that any unauthorised release or misuse of privileged information could amount to professional misconduct and expose the lawyer to disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), as well as other legal consequences.
“Accordingly, I hereby place you on formal notice that you are not authorized to disclose, publish, communicate, exploit, or otherwise use any confidential or privileged information acquired in the course of your retainer, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose whatsoever, except as required by law or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, without my express written authorization.
“Any unauthorized disclosure or misuse of privileged information may constitute professional misconduct and may give rise to disciplinary proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, as well as any other remedies available under the law,” parts of the letter stated.
Neither Ejiofor nor members of his legal team had publicly responded to the letter as of the time of filing this report.
The development comes amid Kanu’s ongoing trial on terrorism-related charges filed by the Federal Government.
Kanu, who was first arrested in 2015, jumped bail in 2017 before leaving Nigeria. He was later re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and returned to Nigeria, where he has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) while facing prosecution.
His trial has witnessed several legal twists, including disputes over jurisdiction, his detention and applications for bail. The case has also generated widespread public attention, particularly in the South-East, where IPOB enjoys support among some groups advocating greater autonomy or the creation of an independent Biafra.
In recent months, there have also been changes within Kanu’s legal representation, with different senior lawyers appearing in court on his behalf as the case progresses.
Ejiofor had served as one of Kanu’s closest legal associates for years and regularly addressed the media after court proceedings, providing updates on the case and responding to issues relating to IPOB and its detained leader.
His removal is therefore expected to reshape the public communication surrounding Kanu’s legal battle and could affect the composition of the legal team handling the high-profile case.
The latest directive also highlights Kanu’s insistence that all decisions relating to IPOB, including the appointment of legal representatives, must comply strictly with the group’s internal rules.
The Federal Government has consistently maintained that IPOB is a proscribed organisation in Nigeria, following a court order obtained in 2017. Despite the ban, the group continues to reject the designation and has repeatedly called for Kanu’s release.
With the formal withdrawal of Ejiofor’s authority, attention is now expected to shift to Kanu’s current legal team and whether the affected lawyer will immediately comply with the directives contained in the letter.