IPOB, Legal Team React to Claims That Nnamdi Kanu Admitted to Inciting Attacks on Police

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the legal team representing its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, have strongly denied widespread reports alleging that Kanu admitted in court to inciting attacks on police officers. Describing the reports as “misleading” and a “malicious misrepresentation” of court proceedings, Kanu’s Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, dismissed the claims in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), cautioning the public not to draw conclusions before the prosecution witness is cross-examined.

IPOB, in a separate statement issued by its spokesperson Emma Powerful, accused the media outlet behind the reports of deliberately distorting facts. The group asserted that the prosecution’s case against Kanu lacked credibility, claiming the proceedings exposed the Nigerian government’s legal efforts as “a cesspool of deceit, incompetence, and desperation.” They alleged the prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Mr. Awomolo, had violated procedures and relied on unreliable testimony from a masked witness, identified only as PW2-BBB.

According to IPOB, the witness’s testimony was unsupported by any evidence, and no formal documentation had been filed or served, despite the government obtaining a statement from the witness four years ago. The group said this prompted the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, to caution the prosecution and remind them to comply with due process. In court, Kanu reportedly discredited the witness, stating that he did not know PW2-BBB and accused them of being a “mercenary” hired to provide false testimony.

IPOB also challenged the witness’s claimed identity as an officer of the State Security Service (SSS) and condemned the use of masked witnesses, warning that they may begin to publicly reveal the identities of such individuals if the practice continues. Reiterating that Kanu made no admission of incitement, the group said the witness’s vague response—“I don’t know”—was twisted into a false confession, which they described as “disgraceful journalism” and an act of “Igbo-phobia and anti-Biafra propaganda.”

Calling on the media and public to focus on what they described as the prosecution’s failure to present a legitimate case, IPOB criticized the exclusion of Kanu’s sister-in-law from court proceedings over what they termed a “minor infraction.” They concluded by praising Justice Omotosho’s insistence on legal standards and reaffirmed their commitment to seeking justice and the restoration of Biafra. The group urged the Nigerian public and international community to see through what they characterized as a campaign of lies against their leader.