Proscribed Igbo separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has accused the Nigerian government of exploiting and benefiting from the detention of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group, in a statement on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful ahead of Kanu’s arraignment before new judge, Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court on Friday, alleged that over N500 million is earmarked by the Federal Government for each court appearance of its leader, and described the expenses as a corrupt scheme to siphon public funds under the guise of legal proceedings.
In the statement, IPOB said the Nigerian government shamelessly exploits the detention of Kanu’s detention to siphon money from tax payers.
“The noble family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, unequivocally condemns the Nigerian government’s relentless exploitation of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and the suffering masses of Nigeria in a scandalous scheme that reeks of corruption, greed, and moral bankruptcy,” Powerful said.
“As Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case comes up again on Friday, March 21, 2025, before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the world must bear witness to the grotesque spectacle of a government that extorts its impoverished citizens while perpetuating injustice under the guise of legal proceedings.
“It is an outrageous travesty that every court appearance of our leader—a mere five-minute drive from the DSS dungeon where he is unjustly held—costs Nigerians over 500 million Naira.
“This obscene figure, confirmed by Lai Mohammed, the former Minister for Information, in 2021 following Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s illegal abduction and extraordinary rendition, is a windfall for the heads of Nigeria’s security agencies and senior members of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
“Since June 2021, when Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was kidnapped and dumped into detention, he has been dragged to court approximately 11 times under Justice Binta Nyako, amounting to a staggering 5.5 billion Naira squandered by this APC-led government on a cumulative journey of just 22 miles.
“This is not justice—it is a looting spree, sanctioned by the likes of former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami and executed without scrutiny or shame.
“While the Nigerian government bleeds its citizens dry with this fraudulent budgeting, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu languishes in DSS custody, denied basic dignity. For nearly four years, he has been forced to wear the same Fendi outfit he was abducted in—a symbol of the torture and degradation he has endured.
“Despite the millions allegedly allocated for Kanu’s “upkeep and welfare,” the DSS has neither provided him with new clothing nor permitted a change of attire.
“Where, then, has this money gone? Into the pockets of the beneficiaries of insecurity—those vultures in uniform and robes who profit from his prolonged detention and have no interest in seeing this case resolved.
“The Nigerian masses, already crushed under unprecedented economic hardship, are the true victims of this grand theft. As families struggle to survive, the APC government funnels billions into the hands of a corrupt elite, all while parading Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before the courts in a sham trial designed to perpetuate this racket. This is not governance; it is a criminal enterprise masquerading as a state.
“IPOB demands an immediate end to this charade. We call on the international community, human rights organizations, of and all people of conscience to hold the Nigerian government accountable for its actions.
“The continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the extortion of Nigeria’s suffering citizens, and the profiteering by security chiefs and judicial officers must not be allowed to stand. We will not rest until justice is served, and those responsible for this national disgrace are brought to book.
“The beneficiaries of this 5.5 billion Naira largesse may believe they are untouchable, but the eyes of the world are watching. The blood money they siphon from the poor will choke them in due time. IPOB remains resolute: Free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu now, and let the truth prevail,” he stated.
