DSS Plotting to Silence Nnamdi Kanu, May Miss Friday’s Court Session, Family Warns

• The family of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the DSS of blocking his defence preparations ahead of Friday’s trial and urged the international community to intervene.

The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of deliberately frustrating his efforts to prepare for his defence ahead of his scheduled court appearance on Friday, November 7, 2025.

In a statement issued on Thursday night by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, on behalf of the family, they alleged that the DSS has “made it almost impossible” for the IPOB leader to consult with his legal team, access essential materials, and file critical court documents required for his trial.

“In the last few days, the DSS has denied Mazi Kanu proper access to his lawyers, family members, and key witnesses,” the statement read. “They have also refused to allow him to file the court documents he needs for his case, which is scheduled for Friday.”

The family warned that, as a result, Kanu may be unable to appear in court, not out of defiance, but because he has been denied the opportunity to adequately prepare his defence.

According to the family, the DSS has been recording his meetings with lawyers and relatives, refusing him access to a computer and printer, and preventing him from visiting the court registry to file his own legal documents. They described these actions as clear violations of Section 36 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees every accused person the right to a fair hearing.

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“What the DSS is doing is unfair, unlawful, and intentional,” the statement continued. “They are making it difficult for him to defend himself so that the case can be decided against him.”

The family further called on the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), European Union (EU), Commonwealth, and other international human-rights groups to intervene and compel the Nigerian government to respect the rule of law.

“If Mazi Nnamdi Kanu cannot appear in court or defend himself, the DSS and the Nigerian Government should be held responsible,” the family warned. “They are frustrating him by ignoring court orders and violating his rights.”

Efforts by Vanguard to obtain a response from DSS officials in Abia State were unsuccessful, as personnel of the secret police reportedly declined to comment on the allegations.

Kanu, who has been in DSS custody since his re-arrest in 2021, faces multiple charges including treasonable felony before the Federal High Court, Abuja. His detention and treatment have drawn widespread criticism from human-rights advocates and international observers who argue that his continued confinement violates international legal standards.