Lawyer claims govt avoids Kanu appeal as 'nullity'; IPOB threatens 2027 South-East election boycott
Lawyer Onyedikachi Ifedi stated on September 16 that the Nigerian government avoids listing Nnamdi Kanu's appeal because his conviction was a legal nullity, not mere delay. Ifedi, speaking for Kanu's legal consortium, claimed the FG filed no defense, the Court of Appeal won't schedule hearings, and the trial judge convicted under a repealed law. He indicted the judiciary for overriding criminal discharges with civil stays and reviving quashed charges. IPOB's Directorate of State head issued a 14-day ultimatum to list the appeal or face a boycott of the 2027 election in the South-East and 'Biafra territories'. Ifedi argued Kanu representing himself removes state pressure on lawyers, noting the 115-page appeal raises eight constitutional issues based on the TPPA 2022 transition. He warned that hearing the appeal would force the judiciary to confront the conviction's lack of lawful foundation, risking either case collapse or damaged credibility. The ultimatum sets a September 30 deadline for government action before potential election disruption.