Kanu: Diaspora Organisations Raise Alarm Over ‘Grave Irregularities’ In Verdict

Three United States-based Igbo advocacy groups – the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), Ambassadors for Self-Determination and the Rising Sun Foundation — have alleged serious procedural irregularities in the judgment delivered at the Federal High Court Abuja in the case involving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

A statement released on Friday and made available to THE WHISTLER was signed by Dr. Sylvester Onyia for AVID, President Benson Nwankwo for Ambassadors for Self-Determination, and Mazi Maxwell Dede for Rising Sun Foundation.

The organisations said they were drawing the attention of the international community, Nigerians and the legal profession to what they described as “two grave procedural breaches” that, in their view, undermine fair hearing and constitutional guarantees.

“We issue this statement to alert all institutions committed to democratic governance that two grave procedural breaches occurred in the recent judgment involving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the groups said.

“These breaches undermine the pillars of fair hearing, constitutional order and the integrity of the Nigerian justice system.”

The organisations claimed that the court relied on allegations contained in a charge that had earlier been struck out during preliminary hearings.

They said eight counts, including the one alleging that Kanu incited the destruction of public property during the EndSARS protests, had been dismissed by the court but were still referenced in the final judgment.

“A struck-out count ceases to exist in the eyes of the law,” the statement read. “It cannot be revisited or used to form the basis of any conviction. Yet this allegation appeared in the reasoning that led to the conviction. No defendant may be convicted on an allegation not properly before the court,” they argued.

The groups also alleged that the defence team was denied the right to file a final written address despite previously being instructed by the court to reserve objections for that stage. They described the development as a violation of constitutional rights.

“Throughout the proceedings, the judge repeatedly instructed the defence to raise its objections in the final written address,” they said.

“However, when the time came to file that address, the court foreclosed the defence and proceeded directly to deliver judgment.”

They stressed this violates the constitutional right to be heard.

The organisations urged Nigerians, civil society groups and legal experts to review the Certified True Copies of the proceedings to assess the conduct of the case for themselves.

“Anyone who reads the record will see how, step by step, the handling of the case departed from established legal procedure and sidelined constitutional safeguards,” they said.

They called on relevant authorities to address the concerns raised, warning that confidence in the justice system depends on transparency and adherence to due process.

“For the sake of justice and Nigeria’s democratic credibility, these issues must not be ignored.

“They demand scrutiny, accountability and corrective action,” the statement added.

Kanu: Diaspora Organisations Raise Alarm Over ‘Grave Irregularities’ In Verdict is first published on The Whistler Newspaper