The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) has urged the Federal Government to withdraw from the ongoing legal proceedings against its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and release him unconditionally, accusing the government of ethnic persecution.

In a statement released by IPoB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on Monday, the group described the continued trial of Kanu as political and ethnically motivated.

The IPoB also accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of violating international law by continuing to prosecute Kanu, who was allegedly kidnapped and transferred from Kenya to Nigeria by the previous administration.

“The noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, led by the great leader Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu, hereby drew the attention of the public towards the kangaroo persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government.

“We view President Bola Tinubu led Nigeria government’s continued kangaroo persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in another court sitting on 24th September 2024, as ethnic persecution. The continuous illegal Court trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is nothing but political and ethnic persecution by the incumbent government of Tinubu, despite the Court of Appeal judgement that discharged him which is still subsisting, yet the Nigerian government has continued his trial,” the statement read.

IPoB expressed frustration over the government’s failure to comply with a Court of Appeal judgement that discharged Kanu. They argued that the continued detention and trial of Kanu, despite this judgement, violates both local and international laws.

The group further condemned the Nigerian government’s treatment of Kanu, accusing it of ignoring court rulings and deteriorating his health in detention.

IPoB continues to call on the international community to intervene in the case and secure Kanu’s release, arguing that his trial is unjust and politically motivated.

“The Nigerian government lacks prosecution powers against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, more so when there is the subsisting judgement of the Court of Appeal which Nigerian government has not vacated. Kanu’s continued detention and trial violate international laws, especially, the manner [in which] he was kidnapped and renditioned from Kenya to Nigeria,” the statement added.

“Even the Supreme Court of Nigeria condemned his kidnap and renditioning from Kenya to Nigeria. However, because of the threat from the executive government, the Supreme Court Judges have been afraid to affirm the courageous judgement of the Court of Appeal.

“The Court condemnation of the kidnapping and rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is enough evidence that the Nigerian government is lawless and in violation of international laws. Let it be known to the Nigerian government and their judicial accomplices that as long as IPoB is concerned our leader is being illegally detained and persecuted for a peaceful Biafra self-determination struggle in line with the UN laws and African and People’s Right Chatter.

“IPoB worldwide is bringing to the attention of the public and the International community that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not commit any crime known to law both locally and internationally. This position of the law has been affirmed by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria which dismissed all frivolous charges against him and ordered his unconditional release and compensation.

“We, therefore, declare that his continued court arraignment is a political and ethnic persecution by the ethnic bigotry government of Nigeria. Irrespective of all the national and intercontinental Court judgments in his favour, the lawless Nigerian government has refused to release him.

“Even when his health is deteriorating in the illegal solitary confinement of DSS, the Nigerian government is adamant towards his release, as the courts have directed.”