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Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Published

1 week ago

December 9, 2025

Nnamdi Kanu

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Leading Igbo diaspora organisations have sharply criticised the United Kingdom for maintaining what they describe as “disturbing silence” over the conviction and life imprisonment of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu, a British citizen and head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted on terrorism-related charges weeks ago and subsequently transferred to Sokoto prison, drawing outrage from diaspora groups who insist the UK has abandoned one of its nationals.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), the Ambassadors for Self-Determination (ASD) and the Rising Sun Foundation (RSF) accused the British government of failing in its human rights obligations.

“The UK government has failed to uphold its duty to protect one of its own citizens,” AVID president Dr. Sylvester Onyia said. “A British passport holder was abducted from Kenya without legal extradition, subjected to a sham trial under a repealed law, yet London remains silent. This silence undermines the UK’s credibility as a human rights champion.”

ASD president Evans Nwankwo described Britain’s inaction as hypocritical, noting that London is vocal on abuses in Russia, Myanmar, Hong Kong and other regions. “When it is a British citizen facing unlawful detention and a life sentence, the government’s indifference becomes deafening. Silence here reads as complicity,” he stated.

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RSF director Maxwell Dede linked the UK’s posture to historic grievances, arguing that the silence reinforces perceptions of ethnic bias rooted in Britain’s role during the 1967–1970 Biafran War. “By ignoring Kanu’s case, the UK risks signalling that geopolitical interests outweigh justice for the Igbo people,” he said.

The diaspora groups demanded immediate UK intervention, including:

A public statement condemning Kanu’s alleged rendition from Kenya
Enforcement of the 2022 Appeal Court judgment that discharged him
Full consular access
A parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s handling of the case
Possible sanctions under the UK Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations targeting Nigerian officials allegedly involved in the rendition or torture

They emphasised that IPOB is legally registered in the UK, and Kanu’s broadcasts from London fall under British free speech protections. The organisations argued that £6.5bn UK–Nigeria trade relations cannot supersede the government’s duty to protect its citizens.

“This is no longer a purely Nigerian matter,” Onyia added. “When a British citizen is abducted, tortured, tried under a repealed law and denied the benefit of a binding judgment, it becomes an international issue. The UK must act.”

The groups vowed to intensify international advocacy, engaging the United States, the United Nations, and global media to ensure monitoring of Kanu’s health and detention conditions.

“The world is watching,” Dede said. “Human rights, due process, and the protection of citizens are non-negotiable. Silence is complicity.”

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Related Topics:Diaspora Igbo Kanu UK govt

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Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerian TikTok star Peller

Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested popular social media influencer Habeeb Hamzat, known as Peller, following a viral video showing him driving recklessly and crashing his vehicle during a live-stream.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, the arrest comes after public outrage over the dangerous road crash, which occurred on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The police described Peller’s actions as life-threatening, endangering both himself and other road users.

“The Lagos State Police Command has arrested and detained Habeeb Hamzat aka ‘PELLER’ for further investigation, following the viral video in which he was seen driving recklessly, resulting in a dangerous accident while live-streaming,” the statement partly read.

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The incident is now under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), with the outcome to be made public. The suspect is expected to face charges in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Olohundare Jimoh, warned social media influencers and members of the public against using online platforms to engage in reckless or unlawful behaviour. “Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, and the full weight of the law will be applied on any offender,” he stated.

The crash has reignited debate over the rising trend of risky stunts by content creators, with many Nigerians calling for stricter enforcement to curb similar incidents.

Authorities continue to emphasize road safety, urging all drivers to comply with traffic regulations and warning that anyone endangering lives on the state’s roads, regardless of social status or online influence, will face prosecution.

This latest incident highlights the urgent need for responsible social media usage, public safety awareness, and stronger law enforcement against dangerous behaviour on Nigerian roads.

Social Media Star Peller Arrested in Lagos for Live-Streamed Car Crash

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Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

LAGOS — Prominent human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has petitioned the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of 10 soldiers accused of killing three police officers in Taraba State, as well as 400 alleged terrorism financiers whose cases were reportedly abandoned under the previous administration.

In his petition, Falana accused former AGF Abubakar Malami, SAN, of deliberately shielding the suspects from justice despite “overwhelming evidence.” Copies of the petition were also sent to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“The withdrawal of terrorism charges against these soldiers and the failure to prosecute hundreds of terror financiers amount to a grave abuse of prosecutorial powers and a betrayal of public trust,” Falana said.

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Falana recalled that in August 2019, 10 soldiers led by an Army Captain ambushed and killed three police officers in Jalingo, Taraba State, after they had arrested notorious kidnapper Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume. Although the soldiers were initially charged with terrorism offences at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the case was abruptly terminated after Malami entered a nolle prosequi, which Falana described as unconstitutional.

He noted that while the United Arab Emirates convicted six Nigerians for financing Boko Haram—two sentenced to life imprisonment and four jailed for 10 years—Nigerian authorities failed to bring a single financier to justice.

Falana accused Malami of failing to prosecute the 400 suspected terrorism financiers arrested after investigations by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Department of State Services (DSS), despite assurances that trials would commence after a judicial workers’ strike.

“The case files of these suspected financiers are reportedly still in the Office of the Attorney-General, while many of the suspects have regained their freedom. Nigeria cannot win the war against terrorism while protecting those who finance and execute it. The era of impunity must end,” Falana added.

Femi Falana Demands Arrest of Soldiers, 400 Terror Financiers Shielded Under Previous Administration

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Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Trends Admin

Updated: Nationwide Electricity faces threat as Gas Companies Cut Supplies

Nigerians may experience power shortages this Yuletide as gas-to-power debt issues disrupt electricity generation across the country.

Gas companies have begun cutting supplies to thermal power plants over unpaid debts, forcing electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to reduce daily power supply.

On Tuesday, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) informed customers across the South-East that low system frequency, caused by gas supply constraints, had necessitated load shedding by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). EEDC subsidiaries affected include MainPower, TransPower, FirstPower, NewEra, and EastLand.

Similarly, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company confirmed that poor generation and allocation from generation companies (GenCos) were causing load shedding in its franchise areas.

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The Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) confirmed that gas producers had started cutting supply due to outstanding debts owed by the government, despite a recent approval of N185 billion by the Federal Government for payment of arrears to gas suppliers, announced on December 4, 2025, by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) further disclosed that gas pipeline vandalism in the upstream network has worsened the situation, causing reduced output from gas-fired power plants and a decline in national grid generation capacity. Emergency measures, including increased hydroelectric dispatch and voltage control interventions, have been activated to maintain system stability.

With over 80 per cent of grid-connected power plants relying on natural gas, the sector remains highly vulnerable to gas supply disruptions, raising fears of sustained power outages during the festive season unless liquidity issues and infrastructure vulnerabilities are urgently addressed.

The current development signals a critical need for government intervention, stakeholder coordination, and investment in gas infrastructure to prevent widespread electricity shortages across Nigeria.