The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has accused Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court of delivering a biased judgment against its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, allegedly influenced by financial inducement and a promised elevation to the Court of Appeal.
In a statement on Thursday, IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful claimed the group received “credible information” from an insider alleging that the judge was “swayed by monetary gain and a promotion offer” before sentencing Kanu to life imprisonment.
IPOB described the ruling as unjust and alleged that the judge exhibited bias throughout the trial. The group further accused senior lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) of taking a prosecutorial stance during the proceedings.
According to IPOB, both men acted “under pressure from those in authority to silence Kanu.” It also alleged that Kanu repeatedly asked the court to cite the specific written law under which he was being tried, claiming the judge and prosecution failed to do so.
The group insisted that the life sentence was based on a “nullified law” not recognised by the Nigerian constitution, arguing that neither Kanu nor IPOB had violated any Nigerian or international statutes. It also cited previous instances where judges who ruled against Kanu were promoted, describing the trend as evidence of systemic judicial corruption.
IPOB warned that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent by legitimising extraordinary rendition, unlawful arrest, and the application of “abolished or unwritten laws” in criminal trials.
The group called on the National Judicial Council, international judicial bodies, and the International Criminal Court to investigate Justice Omotosho’s conduct, saying it was prepared to present evidence of alleged bias.
