Nnamdi Kanu: Lawyer accuses NBA of engaging in jamboree ‘while criminal justice burns’
Lawyer Criticizes Nigerian Bar Association Over Nnamdi Kanu Case
A legal practitioner, Christopher Chidera, has expressed strong criticism of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for what he perceives as its failure to address issues of injustice and an unfair trial regarding Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Chidera, who is affiliated with the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu Global Legal Consortium, accused the NBA of passivity in the face of a deteriorating criminal justice system in Nigeria.
In a letter sent to the NBA’s leadership and shared with the International Bar Association (IBA), Chidera lamented the association’s inaction, particularly during its ongoing annual convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which has attracted approximately 23,000 legal professionals from across the country.
Chidera criticized the NBA’s lack of response to Kanu’s situation, questioning the organization’s commitment to justice. He stated, “While the NBA holds a jamboree, the foundations of Nigerian criminal justice are being set ablaze in Abuja.” He characterized the NBA’s silence as a move beyond neutrality, branding it as complicity.
He further expressed disappointment that the NBA, which has a historical legacy of advocacy, particularly pointing to the late lawyer Gani Fawehinmi, has seemed to prioritize social events at the expense of fundamental legal principles. Chidera argued that the NBA has become detached from its duty to challenge governmental overreach.
Regarding Kanu’s trial, Chidera pointed to a key event on October 13, 2022, when the Court of Appeal discharged Kanu and annulled the charges against him. He noted that for eight days, no appeal or stay of execution was filed by the Nigerian government, during which Kanu was entitled to his liberty.
“An unprecedented procedural maneuver was later deployed to obtain a civil stay of execution against the effect of a criminal appellate discharge,” he said, calling this development alarming for Nigeria’s legal community.
Chidera highlighted that prior to the court’s discharge, Kanu had endured around 14 months of detention without formal charges after his return to Nigeria. He criticized the NBA for remaining silent when the court failed to hold accountable the Department of State Services (DSS) and the then Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, for not complying with the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
The lawyer contended that it is unacceptable for a court to facilitate a contemnor in bypassing a final order, a point he believes should have been vocally opposed by the NBA.
Chidera urged the association to reflect on the significance of Kanu’s case beyond the individual involved, asserting that it raises critical questions about the rule of law, judicial authority, and accountability. He called on the NBA to revive the spirit of advocacy exemplified by figures like Fawehinmi, who held the government accountable for injustices.
In closing, Chidera criticized the NBA’s current stance, asserting, “The watchdog has become a lapdog. NBA, where is your conscience? Where is the Nigerian Bar Association?”
