By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said that the Nigerian Supreme Court Justices derailed and mishandled justice by quashing the appeal court's judgment on its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case.

It observed that the judgment came to the world as a big surprise, saying that all Nigerians and non-Nigerians have doubts that the country’s judiciary delivered justice on the matter even as Abuja High Court is set to commence the Kanu’s trial on February 8, 2024.

The group in a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said: “The Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a confusing written judgment against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on December 15, 2023.

“That compromised judgment discouraged Nigerians who thought there were independent and courageous men at the Apex Court of Nigeria. It showed that ordinary men can't get justice in Nigeria.

“During the Supreme Court judgment on December 15, 2023, the Justices affirmed that it was unlawful for the Nigerian government to have kidnapped and extraordinaryly renditioned Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria. But they still stopped the landmark decision and judgment of Nigeria Appeal Court Justices.

“They also affirmed that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu did not jump bail, which was the main reason that the Nigerian government broke international laws and treaty of extradition.

“By kidnapping and extraordinarily renditioning Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, they lost all their rights to try him. On what grounds did the Justices return the case back to the High Court after Mazi Nnamdi Kanu won the case in Appeal Court? Why will the Justices set aside the judgment of the Appeal Court that discharged and acquitted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu but refused to deliver their own independent judgment on the matter?

“As much as we believed that the Judges were pressured to read a compromised written judgement to be used against a peaceful freedom fighter and a prisoner of conscience, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, nevertheless they played a smart game. They understood the consequences affirming the illegality of extraordinary rendition by the Nigeria government. That's why they connivilly and unprofessionally sent the case back to the High Court so that the federal government will fulfill their agenda. Pontius Pilate Justices indeed.

IPOB further called on the general public to take note that the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed February 8, 2024, as a date to commence what would be a scripted or endless Court case.

It said Kanu will be represented at the court by his legal team.

It added: “We want to inform the Nigeria government and the international community that IPOB have lost confidence in the Nigeria Judiciary until they prove otherwise.

“The Supreme Court Justices colluded with Tinubu's Government to send the case back to the same Judge who has been doing hanky panky with the case in the High Court for many years. It's sad that the Supreme Court Justices will succumb to pressure or inducement and deny justice to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who has been persecuted and detained illegally by the Nigeria State for seeking to exit Nigeria via a legal UN supervised Referendum for an independent Biafra Nation.

“By the actions of the Supreme Court, it's obvious that they are part of the oppressors and suppressors of the UN and the African Charter on People's Rights to Self Determination.

“The international community, the Human Right Organization, and Civil Society groups should be aware that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are being persecuted for peacefully championing Biafra Self Determination by the Nigerian Government, Nigerian Security Forces and the Nigerian Supreme Court. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been detained in a solidarity confinement in Nigeria's lawless Secret Police, DSS, for almost 3 years. He has been denied access to visitors of his choice as permitted by the High Court in Nigeria.

“He is being subjected to all manner of ill treatments, including starvation, drug abuse, and isolation in DSS solidarity confinement. His health has deteriorated, and he doesn’t have access to quality medications and professional private physicians.

“Should anything happen to our leader in detention, the Nigeria Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigeria Secret Police (DSS) Director and personnel, and the Supreme Court Justices that upheld injustice should be held responsible.”