Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to discontinue the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), describing it as a “sham” and a stain on Nigeria’s justice system.
In a statement posted on his official X handle on Thursday, Sowore said the ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja offer the country “its best opportunity to end the charade once and for all.”
Sowore calls for justice and fairness
He criticised the continued prosecution of Kanu, alleging that the trial was driven by “politics, prejudice, and suppression” rather than justice.
According to him, the process lost legitimacy after Kanu’s “illegal and extraordinary rendition from Kenya,” which he said further damaged Nigeria’s credibility before the international community.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation still has a few hours today to do the right thing,” Sowore wrote, urging the government to file a nolle prosequi — a legal motion to formally discontinue the trial. He added that doing so would signal the government’s commitment to fairness and the rule of law.
Sowore also called on Justice James Omotosho, who is presiding over the case, to “stand on the side of truth and humanity” by striking out the charges entirely.
He maintained that such a decision would not only restore dignity to the judiciary but also spare the administration of President Bola Tinubu “further embarrassment” over a matter that has lingered unnecessarily.
According to Sowore, ending the case would mark a significant step toward rebuilding public trust in Nigeria’s legal system and closing “a disgraceful chapter that has dragged on for far too long.”
