Nnamdi Kanu: ‘Stop running from courtroom, show the law’ – Defence team to Nigerian Govt

The defence team of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has challenged the Nigerian government to face the appeal against his conviction in court. Kanu is currently serving a life sentence in Sokoto Prison after being convicted on terrorism charges. His defence team, led by Barrister Christopher Chidera, Esq., has called on the government to appear before the court and defend the conviction.

They argue that the government is running from the courtroom and hiding behind "public legal illiteracy" in justification of the conviction. The Okwu-Kanu family, who filed the appeal request, has also demanded an immediate hearing of Kanu's appeal. They claim that Kanu has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal, citing prolonged delays in proceedings.

The defence team questioned the Nigerian government's willingness to join the appeal and challenged them to present the law under which Kanu was convicted. They emphasized that Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution requires a criminal offence and its punishment to be prescribed by written law. The defence team urged the Court of Appeal to confront the actual statutory framework and identify the law in force at the time of Kanu's conviction.

They demanded that the government come to court and explain the statutory provisions, rather than hiding behind the simple statement that "Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is hereby convicted."