Chris Nwaọgụ Demands Accountability as High Court File on Kanu’s 14-Month Detention Disappears

• The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reiterated its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, while renewing its call for the restoration of an independent Biafran nation.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reiterated its demand for the immediate and unconditional release of its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, while renewing its call for the restoration of an independent Biafran nation.

The group also announced a renewed campaign for the boycott of the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that its members and supporters should avoid participating in activities organised by the ruling party.

The positions were contained in a weekly address issued on Sunday, November 1, 2026, by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ, Head of the Fourth Administration of IPOB’s Directorate of State (DOS).

In the statement addressed to Biafrans at home and in the Diaspora, Nwaọgụ described Kanu’s release and Biafra’s restoration as the organisation’s two central objectives, insisting that neither would be abandoned under political pressure or changing circumstances.

IPOB Challenges Federal Government Over Kanu’s Appeal

A major focus of the address was the continued legal battle surrounding Kanu’s conviction by Justice James Omotosho on November 20, 2025.

Nwaọgụ accused the Federal Government of delaying the hearing of Kanu’s appeal against the judgment, alleging that the authorities were unwilling to subject the conviction to appellate scrutiny.

He also raised concerns over the alleged disappearance of the court file relating to Kanu’s 14-month detention without trial, following his discharge by the Court of Appeal on October 13, 2022.

The IPOB official referenced legal arguments reportedly advanced by Christopher Chidera and members of a legal team led by Onyedikachi Ifedi, who have challenged the legal foundation of the conviction.

He maintained that Section 36(12) of the Nigerian Constitution, which prohibits conviction for offences not defined by written law, remained central to the legal arguments against the judgment.

The statement called on the authorities to account for the missing court file and ensure that Kanu’s appeal is listed for an open hearing.

IPOB Questions South-East Insecurity Narrative

The organisation also revisited the security situation in the South-East, alleging that political conflicts and rivalries in parts of the region had previously been wrongly attributed to IPOB and its Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Nwaọgụ cited recent public comments attributed to former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha concerning political violence in the state.

According to the IPOB official, the alleged revelations have renewed questions about the identity of those responsible for violence in the region and the circumstances under which IPOB and ESN were repeatedly blamed.

He further questioned what he described as a reduction in insecurity across parts of the South-East following Kanu’s conviction, arguing that the development warranted independent investigation.

However, the statement did not provide independent security data to establish a direct connection between the conviction and the reported change in violence.

IPOB, meanwhile, declared that it opposed a return to political violence in the region and warned against turning Biafraland into a battleground for political interests.

Group Renews Call for APC Boycott

In another major directive, IPOB reaffirmed its call for a total boycott of the APC, accusing the party and successive federal authorities of policies and security operations that allegedly contributed to the suffering of its members.

The organisation specifically referenced Operation Python Dance, alleged extrajudicial killings, the detention of Kanu and reported abuses at security detention facilities.

Nwaọgụ urged Biafrans to shun APC rallies, political gatherings, party insignia and campaign activities.

He also indicated that a broader boycott of the 2027 general elections remained under consideration until Kanu’s appeal is listed and heard.

The IPOB official described the organisation as non-partisan but maintained that its position against the APC would remain unchanged.

IPOB Says 83 Detainees Located in Northern Prisons

The statement also disclosed what IPOB described as a breakthrough in efforts to locate detained members whose whereabouts had allegedly remained unknown.

According to Nwaọgụ, the group’s legal team had traced 83 Biafrans reportedly transferred from Wawa Barracks to federal correctional facilities in Kuje, Keffi and Suleja.

He commended members of IPOB’s South African family for providing financial assistance to three lawyers involved in the legal efforts to secure the detainees’ release.

The organisation pledged to continue pursuing legal action until all its detained members were accounted for and released.

The claims concerning the detainees and their reported transfers could not be independently verified from the statement.

IPOB Accuses Umahi of Planning Social Media Campaign

Nwaọgụ also raised concerns over alleged plans by Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to finance 4,000 social media influencers to promote APC interests and attack Kanu and IPOB’s leadership.

He described the alleged initiative as a propaganda campaign designed to undermine the organisation and create divisions within its ranks.

The IPOB official further alleged that some individuals associated with the group’s dissolved Third Administration were being recruited to spread misinformation and challenge the current leadership.

He urged supporters to scrutinise political narratives on social media and consider the interests behind sponsored online campaigns.

The allegation concerning Umahi’s reported plan to fund 4,000 influencers was not independently substantiated in the statement.

Threatens Legal Action Over Alleged Defamation

The IPOB Directorate of State also warned individuals it accused of spreading fabricated allegations against members of its Fourth Administration and other leaders of the organisation.

Nwaọgụ said the group would pursue appropriate legal action against individuals who knowingly publish defamatory claims or allegations they cannot substantiate.

He maintained that the organisation would no longer tolerate what it described as deliberate character assassination and misinformation.

IPOB Says Kanu’s Release Remains Its Priority

Concluding the address, Nwaọgụ urged members and supporters to remain united, disciplined and committed to the organisation’s objectives.

He called for continued legal efforts on behalf of detained members, protection of communities and sustained international advocacy.

Reiterating the organisation’s position, he insisted that Kanu’s release was not a favour to be granted by the Federal Government but a matter of justice.

The statement ended with a renewed demand for the missing court file to be produced, Kanu’s appeal to be listed and heard, and his immediate release.

IPOB maintained that the release of Kanu and the restoration of Biafra remained its defining objectives, declaring that its position on both demands was non-negotiable.

The weekly address was signed by Mazi Chris Nwaọgụ, Head of the Fourth Administration, Directorate of State, Indigenous People of Biafra, on Sunday, November 1, 2026.

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