As the fresh trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), commences, his family has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government of Nigeria against spreading false narratives and manipulating the media to tarnish his image.
In a detailed statement released on Sunday in Abuja and signed by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, Nnamdi Kanu’s younger brother, the family condemned what they described as a relentless and orchestrated campaign of misinformation sponsored by the government. They accused the authorities of deliberately linking IPOB to crimes and insecurity in the South-East region in an attempt to influence judicial proceedings and sway public opinion ahead of Kanu’s upcoming court hearing scheduled for April 29, 2025.
Allegations of Media Manipulation
The family highlighted a pattern of negative media stories that surface each time Kanu’s court dates approach. Recent headlines cited by the statement include:
- “Police nab three suspected IPOB members, recover N10.3m in Imo”
- “Police arrest three suspected IPOB members, recover N10 million”
- “Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout in Imo”
- “3 arrested as police bust IPOB hideout in Imo”
According to the statement, these reports are part of a calculated media blitz designed to manipulate public perception and prejudice the judiciary against Kanu and IPOB. The family described this as a systematic defamation campaign that not only attacks Kanu and IPOB but also undermines justice and fairness in Nigeria’s legal system.
Calls for Fairness and Independent Investigation
The statement further criticized the government’s selective focus on IPOB while ignoring other sources of insecurity, particularly the violent activities of Fulani herdsmen. The family pointed out the glaring hypocrisy in how the media and authorities have largely remained silent on the atrocities committed by these groups, who have caused widespread suffering in various parts of Nigeria.
To address what they see as a grave injustice, Kanu’s family called for the immediate establishment of a joint panel of investigators from the United States and the European Union. This independent body would be tasked with conducting a thorough, transparent, and unbiased investigation into the root causes of insecurity in the South-East, aiming to identify the true perpetrators behind the violence.
Upholding the Rule of Law and Justice
The family warned that the government’s use of false narratives and media propaganda to influence judicial outcomes sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the rule of law and public trust in democratic institutions. They urged Nigerians, the international community, and advocates of justice to stand against this orchestrated defamation campaign and demand accountability.
“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are committed to a peaceful struggle for self-determination, and no amount of media manipulation will deter this just cause,” the statement concluded. The family appealed to well-meaning individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide to support their call for an independent investigation and to ensure that justice prevails in Kanu’s case.
