metro

‘Show Me the Law’: Lawyer Questions FG’s Reluctance to Defend Kanu’s Conviction

Published

2 months ago

August 20, 2026

leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu with some of his lawyers

‘Show Me the Law’: Lawyer Questions FG’s Reluctance to Defend Kanu’s Conviction

A lawyer and member of Kanu’s legal consortium has challenged the Federal Government to identify and defend the specific law under which the IPOB leader was convicted, arguing that the government cannot hide behind “public legal illiteracy” to justify a conviction that may have been based on a repealed statute, as Barrister Christopher Chidera, a member of the Global Legal Consortium to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has backed the Okwu-Kanu family’s call for the immediate hearing of Kanu’s pending matters before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, with the challenge stemming from Kanu’s conviction and life sentence on November 20, 2025, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Chidera based his argument on Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that a person shall not be convicted of a criminal offence unless the offence and its penalty are defined in a written law, and he questioned the “extant written law” governing the offence and punishment at the time Kanu was convicted, arguing that if the law under which Kanu was convicted had been repealed, reliance on a savings provision could not, on its own, resolve the constitutional question. He emphasized that a savings clause is not a penal statute, does not create the offence, does not prescribe the punishment, and is not, by itself, the written criminal law contemplated by Section 36(12), while explaining that savings provisions generally preserve specified legal consequences, including proceedings, investigations or liabilities, subject to the precise wording of the relevant legislation, and maintaining that such a provision should not be interpreted as automatically transforming a repealed criminal statute into an extant penal law.

The defence team cited Section 97 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 (TPPA 2022), which provides for proceedings commenced under repealed legislation to be continued and completed under the 2022 Act, but Chidera maintained that the existence of such a savings provision should not end the constitutional inquiry, asking that if the answer is that a savings provision preserved the old proceedings, the next question remains: where is the extant written law satisfying Section 36(12) under which the conviction itself was entered. He further explained that Section 98(3) of the TPPA 2022 only preserves past actions such as arrests, searches, or charges, but does not preserve a repealed law or authorize a conviction under it, noting that the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 was repealed in its entirety by the TPPA 2022, which came into force on May 12, 2022.

READ ALSO:

Chidera identified questions he believes require judicial determination, including what law was in force when the conviction was entered, what written law defined the offence, and what written law prescribed the punishment, stating that these were not matters of public relations or political rhetoric but legal issues that should be addressed by the courts, and that they are not complicated questions but questions of law. The lawyer recalled that Kanu had raised similar questions during his trial, particularly through the demand, “Show me the law,” and said Kanu was now effectively asking the Court of Appeal to answer the same question, adding that if the Federal Government believes the answer is favourable to it, it should come to court and give that answer.

The Okwu-Kanu family has drawn local and international attention to what it described as the Federal Government’s unwillingness to join issues on proceedings seeking Kanu’s freedom, and in a letter dated August 18, 2026, the family expressed concern over the delay, saying Kanu has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and President of the Court of Appeal requesting immediate listing of his cases. The family disclosed that Kanu commenced proceedings before the Supreme Court on November 7, 2025, challenging the legality of the Supreme Court’s remittal judgment of December 15, 2023, and said the Federal Government was duly served but had not filed a substantive response or caused the case to be listed for hearing more than nine months later. Kanu also has a separate appeal before the Court of Appeal challenging his November 20, 2025 conviction and life sentence, with his Appellant’s Brief filed on June 5, 2026, and served on the Federal Government, but the prescribed period for filing the Respondent’s Brief had elapsed without one being filed.

The family based its demand on the Court of Appeal’s October 13, 2022 judgment, which discharged Kanu and quashed the criminal charges against him, and recalled that the Federal Government subsequently obtained a stay of execution on October 28, 2022—just 14 days after the judgment—preventing Kanu from regaining his freedom, stating that fourteen days were enough for a differently constituted panel of a functus officio Court of Appeal to deploy civil procedure against an acquittal-equivalent discharge, and that months cannot now be acceptable merely to list proceedings in which that same man’s liberty is at stake. The family stressed that Kanu was not asking the courts to rule in his favour, but to hear and determine his cases in accordance with the law, adding that if the Federal Government believes the Supreme Court remittal was lawful, it should appear and defend it, and if it believes the conviction and life sentence are lawful, it should file its papers and defend them.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed that the Federal Government, in its cross-appeal filed in response to Kanu’s appeal, admitted that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court acted without jurisdiction in convicting and sentencing Kanu, with IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful stating that the government’s cross-appeal expressly admitted that Justice Omotosho acted without jurisdiction when it imposed the sentence of life imprisonment instead of death penalty. The separatist group argued that if the trial court lacked jurisdiction to impose sentence, then the same trial court lacked jurisdiction to produce the conviction from which the sentence arose, and stated that any attempt by the Court of Appeal to affirm the conviction while simultaneously accepting the Federal Government’s admission regarding jurisdiction would require the creation of an entirely new species of criminal jurisprudence unknown to Nigeria, unknown to the Commonwealth, and unknown to the common-law world. The family has disclosed plans to formally notify the United States Congress, Israeli Knesset and International Bar Association of what it described as an “unacceptable delay” in the handling of Kanu’s cases, saying the relevant chronology and court records would be presented to the international bodies for consideration.

‘Show Me the Law’: Lawyer Questions FG’s Reluctance to Defend Kanu’s Conviction

Related Topics:Conviction Featured FG Kanu lawyer questions

Up Next

Security Forces Kill 24 Bandits, Foil Mass Abduction Plot in Katsina Community

Don't Miss

Lagos Warns Consumers As Expired Products With Falsified Dates Resurface in Markets

metro

Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial

Published

9 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari

Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce the duty roster of personnel deployed to Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, on January 19, 2022—the day a cocaine consignment central to the Abba Kyari drug trial was intercepted. The ruling marks a significant development in a case that has drawn national attention and raised questions about airport security and inter-agency coordination in Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on Monday during the continuation of the trial of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and four other suspended officers of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT). The defendants are facing charges of alleged tampering with 21.35kg of cocaine and are standing trial on counts of conspiracy and obstruction in the illegal dealing and importation of the substance. They have all pleaded not guilty.

Julius Mba, counsel to Kyari and Inspector Simon Agirgba, told the court that the defence had filed a subpoena duces tecum—a legal order requiring a person or organisation to produce specific documents or evidence. The subpoena directs the NDLEA boss to present certified true copies of the duty roster for personnel deployed to the Enugu airport on the date in question. According to Mba, the document is essential to help the defence establish its case and demonstrate how the cocaine consignment allegedly passed through airport security.

READ ALSO:

The court session also addressed the absence of the defence’s second witness, John Nwonke, who was expected to continue his testimony. Nwonke, who had been subpoenaed to appear, was not in court. His lawyers presented a letter dated October 2 stating that he was ill and unable to attend. The development prompted a sharp exchange between the defence and prosecution.

NDLEA counsel Joseph Sunday strongly opposed the adjournment request, urging the court to foreclose Nwonke’s evidence. He argued that the defence had failed to comply with an earlier order directing the witness to appear on Monday. Sunday also questioned the medical letter, noting that it did not disclose the nature of the illness or the hospital where Nwonke was receiving treatment. He told the court the prosecution was “not aware of any subpoena,” adding: “We don’t conduct trial by ambush.”

In his ruling, Justice Nwite declined to foreclose the witness’s evidence immediately. While he observed that Nwonke’s letter was not convincing enough to justify the adjournment, he adjourned the case until October 7, 2026, in the interest of justice. The judge warned that failure of the witness to appear on that date would lead to the foreclosure of his testimony. He also directed counsel to the first to fifth defendants to submit the names of witnesses they intend to call before the next hearing.

The trial had resumed after an indefinite adjournment in May due to Justice Nwite’s shortlisting for elevation to the Court of Appeal. The defence has been calling witnesses in an effort to establish that NDLEA operatives facilitated the passage of convicted drug traffickers through airport security. In a video played in court in March, convicts Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwanne alleged that their photographs were sent ahead to NDLEA officers at the airport to ensure they were cleared without proper screening. The testimony forms part of the defence’s broader argument that the defendants were not the architects of the alleged obstruction.

Kyari and his co-defendants—Sunday Ubua, Bawa James, Simon Agirgba, and John Nuhu—remain at the centre of one of the most closely watched corruption and drug trafficking trials in Nigeria’s recent history. The case has sparked widespread debate about accountability within Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in combating drug crime.

The case was adjourned to October 7, 2026, for further defence proceedings.

Court Orders NDLEA to Produce Enugu Airport Duty List in Abba Kyari Cocaine Trial

metro

No Survivors Found in Ondo NAF Plane Crash — Ondo Governor

Published

10 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa

No Survivors Found in Ondo NAF Plane Crash — Ondo Governor

The Nigerian Air Force plane crash in Ondo State has ended in tragedy, with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa confirming that no survivors were found at the crash site in Igbokoda. The NAF ATR-42 aircraft went down on Monday morning near the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base in Ilaje Local Government Area, killing all 32 people on board—25 passengers and seven crew members. The confirmation came during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where the governor described the scene as devastating.

Governor Aiyedatiwa said rescue workers recovered debris from the Ondo plane crash site, including wing fragments, identity cards, and military uniforms, which helped confirm that a military aircraft had gone down. “So far, no single life was rescued,” the governor said. “They could not find anybody alive in that aircraft.” His words confirmed the worst fears of a nation that had spent hours hoping for a miracle.

The governor revealed that he received news of the NAF crash at about 10:30 a.m. through the chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area. Initial information was sketchy, with residents across the river reporting a loud sound and vibrations resembling an earthquake. Witnesses later saw the aircraft plunge into a swampy area. Aiyedatiwa said Nigerian Navy personnel initially kept their distance after arriving nearby because they were unsure whether the crash would trigger an explosion or fire. Only after confirming there was no fire or explosion did the Navy personnel move toward the crash site to attempt to rescue those on board.

READ ALSO:

Personnel from the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), local residents, and the Amotekun security network also joined the rescue operation. Aiyedatiwa said he had been in constant contact with officials in Igbokoda and had received updates from his Senior Special Adviser on Security Matters and the Nigerian Air Force. The Air Force is also conducting its own assessment to determine the cause of the crash.

The governor described the incident as a “painful development,” especially because it involved military personnel “sent to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria.” “Today is a very sad situation,” Aiyedatiwa said. “We are all sad as Nigerians. And it happened in my own state, not just my own state, but even my own local government area.” His voice carried the weight of a tragedy that has struck close to home for the people of Ondo State.

The traditional ruler of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, expressed relief that the aircraft did not crash into the town. “I was praying and afraid that this must not be an aircraft because the casualty figure would have been too high,” Odidiomo said. “We first of all thank God Almighty that it did not drop in the town.” He added that the plane crashed in bushes and a waterlogged area across the river, and that the presence of water may have prevented the aircraft from catching fire after impact.

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo had earlier said the aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, lost contact with air traffic control at about 9:13 a.m. during a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos. Nigerian Air Force spokesman Ehimen Ejodame confirmed that search and rescue operations had been activated in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies.

Governor Aiyedatiwa has directed SEMA, the Ministry of Health, and relevant security agencies to deploy personnel and resources to support the Air Force and other emergency responders at the crash site. He also ordered security agencies to cordon off the area to prevent unauthorized persons from interfering with rescue operations. The measures reflect the urgency of a situation that has gripped the entire nation.

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Nigerian Air Force to immediately commence a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences. The President extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen, and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.

No Survivors Found in Ondo NAF Plane Crash — Ondo Governor

metro

Benue Boat Mishap: Catholic Priest Among Four Dead, Nine Missing

Published

13 hours ago

October 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Benue Boat Mishap: Catholic Priest Among Four Dead, Nine Missing

A Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Moses Tsuagh, is among four people confirmed dead following a boat mishap at the Buruku crossing point in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State.

The accident occurred on Saturday, October 3, 2026, as passengers were travelling across the Buruku River after attending a burial ceremony. Most of those on board were reportedly from neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area.

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) confirmed that four bodies had been recovered, while nine passengers remained missing as search and rescue operations continued.

SEMA Information Officer, Tema Ager, said the number of people who were aboard the boat was still being established because different accounts had emerged from survivors, relatives and community members.

READ ALSO:

An earlier estimate suggested that more than 200 people may have been on the vessel, while subsequent information put the number of passengers believed to have been involved at about 138. The boat was also carrying numerous motorcycles.

Ager said 125 passengers had been rescued as of Monday, while divers and other rescue personnel continued searching for those still unaccounted for.

The rescue operation is also focused on recovering motorcycles and other belongings that went into the river. Authorities said 38 motorcycles were believed to have entered the water, with five subsequently recovered.

Initial accounts attributed the mishap to engine failure, overloading and difficulties encountered while attempts were made to rescue passengers. Another preliminary account from the state Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, said a strong current swept the boat into an abandoned barge, causing it to overturn.

The differing preliminary accounts are expected to be clarified as the authorities complete their investigation.

Following the accident, the Benue State Government suspended the Buruku crossing-point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime Workers.

Iyaghigba also ordered the suspension of the line operator and directed the arrest and detention of the boat skipper involved in the incident pending investigation.

SEMA has continued to appeal to passengers using the state’s waterways to observe water safety measures, particularly the use of life jackets and compliance with instructions from maritime officials.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about maritime safety in Benue, including passenger capacity, boat maintenance, enforcement of safety regulations and the need for safer river crossings.

Search and rescue efforts are continuing as authorities work to account for all passengers believed to have been aboard the vessel.