?Calls on International community, others to monitor proceedings

By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has urged the international community, human rights organizations, and conscientious observers to continue to monitor the ongoing proceedings of terrorism trial brought against its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, saying that the trial have degenerated to a spectacle of comedy, incompetence, and judicial abuse.

A statement issued on Friday evening by the group?s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said that the Nigerian state is merely exposing itself before the world as incapable of upholding the most basic standards of law, fairness, or justice.

The statement partly read: "At today?s hearing, the prosecution paraded yet another witness, codenamed PW-DDD, whose appearance only served to further expose the emptiness of the charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

"To his credit, PW-DDD appeared unmasked, admitting openly that he had previously interacted with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in 2015 during his earlier illegal detention by the DSS ? a telling reminder that this is now the third unlawful detention of our leader for his legitimate advocacy for Biafra self-determination.

"In an unprecedented display of prosecutorial bankruptcy, Awomolo SAN, leading the prosecution, resorted to submitting internet-sourced newspaper publications as so-called "evidence" in a high-profile terrorism trial.

"Vanguard newspaper became the latest addition to this grotesque parade of media fabrications ? unverified, untested, and purely speculative tabloid materials being tendered in place of credible, admissible evidence. Is this now the standard of legal practice taught at Nigerian law schools?

"Adding to the absurdity, the court was taken on a site visit to inspect the so-called container and radio transmitter ? items which the Court of Appeal had previously ruled should be the subject of proceedings in Awka, not Abuja.

IPOB stressed that the prosecution?s insistence on violating subsisting court orders is not only contemptuous but a flagrant display of executive lawlessness.

It added: "This is nothing but persecution by any name. When asked to proceed with his examination-in-chief, the prosecution shamefully declined and sought an adjournment.

"The Hon. Justice Omotosho, in a clear warning, granted a brief window for continuation but firmly ordered that the prosecution must close its case by Thursday or risk having the case closed automatically.

"The world is witnessing the tragic comedy Nigeria calls a terrorism trial ? a trial that now depends on recycled propaganda, internet fishing expeditions, and discredited media reports rather than actual evidence. No amount of media manipulation or prosecutorial grandstanding can mask the undeniable fact: there is no case against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu."

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