The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a petition before the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), calling for disciplinary action against three judges – Justices Binta Nyako, Haruna Tsammani, and Garba Lawal – over alleged gross judicial misconduct.
In the strongly worded petition, which Kanu personally signed and transmitted through his lawyer, Umesi, he accused the judges of deliberately perverting justice in the handling of his case. He argued that their actions amounted to a miscarriage of justice and posed a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s legal system.
Kanu, who was forcibly extradited from Kenya in June 2021 and has since remained in detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja, outlined what he described as a “catalogue of infractions” committed by the judges. According to him, these actions have left “an indelible stain on Nigeria’s legal conscience.”
In his petition, he urged the NBA—currently convening in Enugu—to thoroughly investigate the matter and take necessary disciplinary measures against the judicial officers. Kanu also called on the association to:
Condemn the use of civil procedures to override criminal law.
Denounce the revival of repealed statutes in judicial proceedings.
Reaffirm that no Nigerian should ever be subjected to detention by abduction or prosecuted under laws that have been repealed.
Ensure accountability for judges who violate their judicial oath, in order to restore public trust in both the Bar and the Bench.
Kanu maintained that holding the judges accountable is essential to protecting the rule of law and preventing further abuse of judicial authority in Nigeria.
