Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Secret Trial: A Travesty Of Justice That Must Be Condemned

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Secret Trial: A Travesty Of Justice That Must Be Condemned During what was supposed to be a transparent court proceed...

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's Secret Trial: A Travesty Of Justice That Must Be Condemned

During what was supposed to be a transparent court proceeding for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on May 21 2025, the Nigerian judiciary once again fell short of the basic tenets of justice and fair hearing. 

Recall that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB) was kidnapped in Kenya and illegally brought into Nigeria in 2021 without any form of legal extradition procedure. Since then, the IPOB leader has been detained in the dungeon of the Nigerian Department of State Services and to face several frivolous court charges. 

On May 21 2025, the Judge who is currently presiding over the case , Hon. Justice James Omotosho oversaw a proceeding shrouded in secrecy and exclusion, violating fundamental judicial principles and raising serious questions about the integrity and impartiality of the process. And, despite the public significance of this case and its national and international implications, family members, friends, and observers were denied access into the court room. Media coverage was entirely restricted, and those allowed inside were deprived usage of their phones and any recording devices. Such an approach is not only undemocratic but deliberately obscures public scrutiny, fueling fears of a predetermined outcome and reinforcing the notion of a secret trial.

The Nigerian Constitution, along with international legal standards affirms the right to a fair and public hearing. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. When proceedings are carried out behind closed doors, with limited transparency and questionable procedures, it erodes public confidence in the judicial system and sets a dangerous precedent.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a prominent figure in the call for the self-determination of the Biafran people deserves to be treated with the same legal protections as any other citizen. The decision to bar public and media access to his trial smacks off judicial manipulation and lends credence to fears that the government is using the courts to persecute a man whose only 

“crime” is advocating peacefully for the freedom of his people who faces systemic Marginalization and subjugation. 

We therefore call on the National Judicial Council (NJC), International Human Rights Observers, and Civil Society Organizations to urgently intervene. Hon. Justice James Omotosho must be reminded that justice carried out in secrecy is injustice in disguise. The world is watching, and history will not forget those who stood by in silence while due process was trampled underfoot.

The legal process must remain open, impartial and accountable. Anything short of that is not Justice, but a betrayal of the very oath that Judicial officers have  sworn to uphold. 

Family Writers Press International