Human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Christopher Chidera, has expressed concerns over the ruling of Mr Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, regarding the no case submission filed by the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial for treason charges.

Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, had declared that Kanu has a case to answer by explaining certain things in his broadcasts. Chidera said Justice Omotosho’s decision departed sharply from established legal principles and underscores a troubling trend of prioritising executive interests over justice.

He expressed the hope that the Court of Appeal will swiftly review and rectify “these egregious legal errors.” He called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate recurring lapses in judicial adherence to law and due process.

“International community and human rights organisations should monitor Nigeria’s ongoing violations of fair trial standards under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” he urged.

According to Chidera, the ruling serves not the cause of fairness, but an agenda founded on a repealed law, and unsupported by credible evidence. He stated that demanding the accused to disprove the prosecution’s case is not justice, “but a mockery of the rule of law.”