Detained for Justice: Kanu Vows Lifelong Imprisonment Until an Impartial Judge Takes His Case

In a defiant open letter that has captivated audiences across Nigeria and beyond, Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared that he is prepared to remain in detention for life if it means his case will finally be heard by a fair and impartial judge.

A Battle Against Systemic Bias

Kanu’s statement comes amid mounting allegations of judicial and executive fraud that he claims have plagued his case since his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in 2021. According to Kanu, his trial is being deliberately shielded from judges capable of delivering a just verdict—an arrangement that, he argues, ensures the Federal Government's desired outcome. "I will not succumb to any trial conducted by any judge or court whose jurisdiction does not pass constitutional muster. Not now, not ever," he wrote in his impassioned letter.

Claims of Fraud and Injustice

In the letter, Kanu accuses the Nigerian government and select judicial figures of conspiring against him. He recalled a landmark ruling from March 1, 2017, when the Federal High Court in Abuja declared that IPOB was not an unlawful group—a decision that, according to Kanu, was subsequently undermined by secretive appeals and stays orchestrated by government officials. This, he contends, is part of a broader pattern of executive and judicial misconduct aimed at silencing dissent and subverting the rights of millions who support the IPOB movement.

Extraordinary Rendition and Ongoing Detention

Detained since his rendition in 2021, Kanu's plight has been marked by repeated violations of his constitutional rights. Despite a court declaring his arrest and detention unconstitutional in October 2022—ordering an apology and compensation from the government—he remains in custody. His case, now before Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court on terrorism-related charges, has seen a series of controversial judicial maneuvers, including the recusal of Justice Nyako and her subsequent indefinite adjournment of his matter.

A Defiant Stand for Fairness

In his open letter, Kanu does not claim there are no decent judges in Nigeria. Rather, he criticizes the deliberate shielding of his case from those who would deliver impartial justice. He warns that unless a judge who meets constitutional standards takes over his trial, he will continue to serve a sentence of his own choosing—one that lasts a lifetime.

A Call to the Public

Kanu’s bold declaration is not just a personal statement; it’s a clarion call to the public to recognize and challenge the systemic injustices within Nigeria's judicial system. His words resonate with supporters who have long decried the manipulation of legal processes for political ends, and they have sparked a heated debate about the right to a fair trial in a society where power often trumps justice.

As Kanu awaits the day when his case will be truly heard, his open letter serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for impartial justice in Nigeria—a struggle that, according to him, may require a lifelong stand against an entrenched system of bias.

Stay tuned as we follow this developing saga, where the fight for fairness and the right to due process remains at the forefront of Nigeria's ongoing battle for democracy and human rights.