A major Igbo youth organization has sounded an alarm over the upcoming court judgment of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) warns that the trial, set for November 2025, is built on a shaky legal foundation that could severely damage Nigeria’s reputation for justice.

At the heart of the concern is how Kanu was brought back to Nigeria. The group points to his arrest in Kenya and transfer to Nigeria in 2021, calling it an “illegal rendition.” They argue that trying a person captured in this way is against both Nigerian law and international agreements the country has signed. They insist this flaw must be addressed before any trial can be considered fair.

Compounding the issue is a major problem with the law itself. The OYC highlights that the government is charging Kanu under a terrorism law that no longer exists. The old Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020 was replaced by a new law in 2022. According to Nigeria’s own Supreme Court, it is illegal to try or convict anyone under a repealed law.

The youth council cautions that ignoring these critical errors would be a “travesty of justice.” They say a conviction under these circumstances would set a dangerous precedent, suggesting that the legal system can be bent for certain cases. This, they argue, would undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary in the eyes of the world.

Furthermore, the OYC frames the situation as more than a legal technicality. They express fear that a flawed conviction would be seen as ethnic targeting against the Igbo people, deepening existing tensions within the nation. This could lead to international embarrassment and even sanctions for judicial misconduct.

In a direct appeal, the group is calling on President Bola Tinubu and the nation’s top legal officers to step in. They urge the leaders to ensure the rule of law is supreme. The OYC insists that Kanu’s trial should not become a tool for oppression, but an opportunity for true justice and national healing.