Nnamdi Kanu: Lawyer Accuses NBA of Silence as ‘Criminal Justice Burns’

A lawyer, Christopher Chidera, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over what he described as the association’s failure to speak out against alleged injustices in the trial and continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Chidera, a member of the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Legal Consortium, made the allegation in a letter addressed to the leadership of the NBA and copied to the International Bar Association.

The criticism comes as the NBA holds its annual conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with thousands of legal practitioners reportedly in attendance.

Chidera accused the association of prioritising its convention while remaining silent on what he described as serious concerns surrounding Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

“The NBA is holding a jamboree while criminal justice burns,” he said, accusing the association of choosing silence despite what he described as violations of fundamental legal principles.

The lawyer argued that the NBA had a responsibility to intervene whenever the rule of law and judicial independence were threatened, regardless of the identity or political affiliation of the person involved.

He specifically raised concerns about the legal proceedings involving Kanu, referring to the October 13, 2022, Court of Appeal judgment that discharged the IPOB leader and quashed the charges against him.

According to Chidera, the Federal Government did not file an appeal or obtain a stay of execution for eight days following the judgment, arguing that Kanu should therefore have been released.

He questioned how a stay of execution was subsequently obtained and described the development as an unusual procedural situation involving a criminal appellate judgment.

Chidera also criticised what he described as the failure of the legal establishment to adequately respond to Kanu’s detention following his extraordinary rendition to Nigeria.

He alleged that Kanu spent about 14 months in detention without being brought before a court on a valid charge, describing the situation as a serious constitutional concern.

The lawyer further accused the NBA of remaining silent during contempt proceedings involving officials of the Department of State Services and the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over alleged disobedience of the Court of Appeal judgment.

He argued that the NBA should have publicly addressed any situation in which government officials allegedly failed to comply with a court order.

Chidera stressed that his criticism was not based on whether lawyers supported or opposed Kanu politically.

“The question is not whether you support Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The question is whether the law applies to him,” he said.

He called on the NBA to examine the broader implications of the case for the rule of law, judicial authority and the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.

Chidera also invoked the legacy of the late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, whom he described as an advocate who consistently challenged government actions he considered unlawful.

He urged the NBA to demonstrate greater independence and courage in addressing alleged violations of legal and constitutional principles.

“The watchdog has become a lapdog. NBA, where is your conscience? Where is the Nigerian Bar Association?” he asked.