Daniel Otera
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, where his entire legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Kanu Agabi, announced their withdrawal from his terrorism trial.
Agabi, who had represented Kanu in previous proceedings, informed Justice Binta Nyako that he would no longer continue as counsel. His decision was supported by other members of the defence team, including all Senior Advocates of Nigeria involved in the case.
In response, Kanu confirmed the development in open court and declared that he would henceforth represent himself. He reiterated his objection to the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
The development marks a major turning point in Kanu’s long-running legal battle, which began after his extraordinary rendition from Kenya in June 2021. Detained since then, Kanu faces charges bordering on treasonable felony and membership of a proscribed organization. The case, ongoing for over four years, has been characterized by repeated adjournments and legal appeals.
The withdrawal of Kanu’s defence team highlights the broader challenges of defending high-profile secessionist figures within Nigeria’s judicial system. Since 2015, several Southeast-related secessionist cases have recorded similar lawyer withdrawals due to intimidation, delays, and allegations of judicial bias.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 and later granted bail in 2017. That same year, the Nigerian Government proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organization under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Proscription) Order of September 2017. Between 2015 and 2018, multiple cases involving members of IPOB and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) recorded significant delays, with many lasting over 18 months.
In 2019, Biafran activist Benjamin Onwuka’s trial collapsed after his counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, withdrew, citing intimidation. Onwuka remained in detention until his pardon in 2022.
Kanu’s re-arrest in 2021 triggered another wave of legal withdrawals. His lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, resigned in November 2021, alleging “judicial bias,” leading to further adjournments. Data from the National Judicial Council (NJC) shows that, between 2015 and 2024, secession-related cases in the Southeast averaged 2.3 years in pre-trial detention—double the national average of 1.1 years for non-political offenses. The NJC also reported a 40% attrition rate among counsels handling such cases.
Amnesty International documented at least 193 incidents of security force interference in Southeast trials by 2016, often resulting in denial of due process and legal representation. Since 2021, at least seven SANs have withdrawn from Kanu’s defence team, citing procedural bottlenecks and threats to professional integrity.
This recurring pattern reflects tensions between the judiciary and political forces in Nigeria, where security concerns and regional autonomy debates intersect.
Economically, these tensions are compounded by stark regional disparities in federal allocations. According to data from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the South-South region—comprising oil-producing states such as Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa—received ₦1.56 trillion between January and July 2025, largely due to the 13% derivation fund from crude oil revenues.
In contrast, the Southeast, which includes Anambra, Enugu, and Imo States, received ₦650.02 billion during the same period, ranking fourth among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. In 2023, the Southeast’s total allocation fell by 15% from the previous year, despite population growth and increasing socio-economic needs.
The region’s unemployment rate stood at 33.3% in Q2 2024, the highest in the country. These disparities have deepened feelings of marginalization and fueled separatist sentiments, particularly among IPOB supporters.
Data also shows that IPOB-linked “sit-at-home” orders have increased by 45% since Kanu’s detention, underscoring growing unrest in the region.
The situation mirrors other separatist struggles across Africa. In Cameroon, for instance, more than 6,000 people have been killed and over 700,000 displaced since the government’s crackdown on Anglophone separatists began in 2016. Amnesty International has drawn parallels between Nigeria’s handling of IPOB and Cameroon’s treatment of its Anglophone leaders, especially regarding detention practices and lack of fair trials.
At the regional level, Kanu’s case has drawn attention from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The ECOWAS Court is scheduled to hear, in 2025, a suit alleging violations of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in his rendition from Kenya. The court’s decision could have major implications for Nigeria’s diplomatic reputation within West Africa.
With Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger recently withdrawing from ECOWAS, Nigeria’s conduct in high-profile human rights cases has gained increased scrutiny. Human Rights Watch has warned that continued violations, including the crackdown on #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protests, may undermine Nigeria’s credibility and influence within the regional bloc.
As the 2027 general elections draw closer, analysts warn that unresolved separatist grievances, regional inequities, and judicial controversies could heighten instability in the country’s Southeast and South-South regions.