Nnamdi Kanu Declares Himself “Prisoner of Conscience,” Demands Global Action Against Nigeria’s Injustice
“The courts have been weaponised against me, not in pursuit of justice, but in service of politics,” Kanu wrote, insisting that his imprisonment is designed to silence legitimate demands for self-determination and dignity.
Abuja, August 27, 2025 — Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared himself a “prisoner of conscience” in a petition from his detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, appealing to world powers to intervene in what he denounced as his unlawful and politically driven incarceration.
In the petition dated August 22, Kanu accused Nigeria’s judiciary of enabling his prolonged detention through unconstitutional and politically motivated rulings, warning that his case has become a test of justice and human rights in Africa’s largest democracy.
“The courts have been weaponised against me, not in pursuit of justice, but in service of politics,” Kanu wrote, insisting that his imprisonment is designed to silence legitimate demands for self-determination and dignity.
The IPOB leader addressed his petition to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Brazil, Japan, the European Union, the African Union, ECOWAS Court, Amnesty International, and the Red Cross.
Detained since June 2021, Kanu has become a symbol of resistance for many of his supporters, who argue that his confinement violates both Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights conventions. Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the fairness of his trial and the government’s handling of the case.
By elevating his plight to the international stage, Kanu has sought to transform his imprisonment into a broader fight for justice, presenting himself not merely as a defendant, but as a conscience-driven voice standing against political oppression.
