The Nigerian judiciary, which is supposed to be the faith and hope of the poor and oppressed, has been turned by the executive into a tool t...
The Nigerian judiciary, which is supposed to be the faith and hope of the poor and oppressed, has been turned by the executive into a tool to oppress the poor and impress the wealthy and political class.
Countless innocent individuals of Igbo descent have faced unimaginable persecution, with many dying without ever knowing their supposed crimes. Civilians are routinely subjected to military tribunals at Wawa Barracks instead of receiving due process in civilian courts. Even more alarming, many detainees are taken far from the Southeast and held in secret dungeons scattered across Northern Nigeria, cut off from their families and left to perish in silence.
The fate of being strangled in cold blood and their vital organs harvested for marketing has been suffered by the unfortunate ones. Others are left to starve and eventually die just for seeking self-determination, which is their constitutional right as stipulated in the constitution of Nigeria and the United Nations charter.
The compromised judiciary looked the other way while Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was subjected to extraordinary rendition in June 2021 when he was abducted in Kenya and forcibly returned to Nigeria under controversial circumstances. His detention has remained a highly contentious issue, with IPOB and human rights organizations condemning the Nigerian government's actions.
The judiciary is like a toy in the hands of the executive, which they play with whichever way they like. They neither respect nor obey the judiciary. In October 2023, the Nigerian Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted Kanu, ruling that his rendition violated international law and due process. Despite this legal victory, the Nigerian government has refused to release him, keeping him in detention under conditions that have raised concerns about his health and human rights. IPOB has repeatedly called for global intervention, urging the United Nations, European Union, and other international bodies to pressure Nigeria to comply with court rulings.
Self-determination is not a crime, and the Indigenous People will never abandon their pursuit of freedom. The British-Nigerian government must recognize that the only lasting solution lies in the unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), along with all Biafrans held incommunicado in hidden detention facilities. Furthermore, a date for a referendum must be set to allow the Indigenous people to determine their future within Nigeria.
In Nigeria, it is unusual for a president to appoint the judge who will oversee their case, effectively dictating the legal proceedings. This is a nation where the president has been accused of certificate forgery and is a convicted international drug lord, while also facing health issues. In stark contrast, an ordinary citizen found with a forged certificate or caught with drugs can face years of imprisonment.
The continuous persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other Biafrans will mark the end of the British company called Nigeria.
Written by
Chima Akpa
Edited by
Obiageli Mboma
For
Imo State Media Team
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