…Sowore: To file no Case submission.Case Adj Jul 18
The Indigenous People of Biafra,IPOB has fired back at the Nigerian government over what it calls a desperate and dishonest attempt to tie its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to the 2020 EndSARS protests — a nationwide youth movement sparked by police brutality.
In a strongly worded statement released Thursday, IPOB described the allegation as not only “baseless” but a calculated smear campaign aimed at propping up what it called a “collapsed case” against Kanu. The statement, signed by IPOB’s spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, came after a heated session at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Kanu is standing trial on terrorism-related charges.
“This claim is intellectually bankrupt and morally obscene,” IPOB stated. “Everyone knows the EndSARS protests were a spontaneous outcry led by young Nigerians demanding justice — not a plot engineered from abroad.”
At the heart of the controversy is a claim made by the prosecution, led by senior advocate Awomolo (SAN), that Kanu used his broadcasts to incite the protests. IPOB flatly rejected this, calling it an attempt to rewrite history and criminalize dissent.
During the court session on June 19, the prosecution closed its case after cross-examining its final witness — an intelligence officer referred to as PW5-EEE. According to IPOB, the witness faltered under pressure, offering conflicting answers and refusing to directly respond until prompted by the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho.
The defence, led by legal heavyweight Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), immediately announced plans to file a “no-case submission,” arguing that the prosecution had failed to present any credible link between Kanu and any acts of terrorism or violence.
IPOB also accused the government of introducing a fabricated intelligence report — dated June 2025 — to support claims about events that occurred in 2020. “It defies logic,” the group said, noting that the document appeared out of sync with the timeline of actual events.
The statement further criticized the prosecution for failing to back up its claims about alleged killings of security personnel in the South East. “Where are the names, the ranks, the death certificates, or even eyewitness accounts?” IPOB asked.
More broadly, the group expressed concern over what it sees as media complicity. “Despite these courtroom revelations, much of the press continues to echo the government’s claims while ignoring evidence that exposes the trial’s political underpinnings,” the statement said.
IPOB encouraged members of the public and international observers to obtain Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the court proceedings to independently assess the facts.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not a terrorist — he is a peaceful advocate for justice and the right to self-determination,” IPOB insisted. “He is not on trial for violence but for daring to speak truth to power. What the government is running is not a case — it’s a monument to state-sponsored falsehood.”
The trial resumes on July 18, 2025, when the court is expected to hear final written arguments.
