Nnamdi Kanu’s Legal Team Threatens to Petition International Bar Association Over Judicial Misconduct

The Global Defence Consortium of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has issued a strong warning to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Judicial Council (NJC), and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), cautioning that their persistent silence over alleged judicial infractions in Kanu’s trial may lead to international escalation.

In a statement signed by Barrister Onyedikachi Ifedi, the consortium revealed that its petition presented during the NBA Annual Conference in Enugu demanded “an immediate halt to the unlawful persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu” and called for “a transparent investigation of Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Haruna Tsammani, and Justice Garba Lawal for gross and egregious violations of judicial oath.

The group accused the judges of unconstitutional rulings, alleging they “sustained charges based on repealed laws—the repealed Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013 and the repealed Customs and Excise Management Act 1958—thereby violating the Principle of Legality (Nullum crimen sine lege).”

It further claimed that the judges “endorsed an unlawful rendition in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution, the Extradition Act, the African Charter, and international treaties,” as well as “violated Section 36 of the Constitution on fair hearing and double jeopardy.”

Despite these allegations, the NBA, NJC, and NHRC have not issued any response. The consortium condemned the silence, stressing it could not be seen as neutrality.

“The NBA, NJC, and NHRC have maintained a disturbing silence. This silence is not neutrality—it is complicity,” the statement declared.

Reaffirming its stance, the group emphasized the supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution. “No court, not even the Supreme Court, has the power to resurrect a repealed law,” it insisted.

It added, “No judiciary bound by its oath can endorse the illegal abduction and rendition of a citizen and still claim to act under the rule of law.”

The consortium further described Kanu’s continued prosecution as unconstitutional: “The continued persecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in defiance of his prior discharge amounts to double jeopardy and a flagrant violation of the Constitution.”

The group warned that unless urgent steps are taken, the matter will be escalated to the International Bar Association (IBA).

“If these infractions continue to be ignored, we shall formally petition the International Bar Association (IBA) to suspend Nigeria from membership until the petition is transparently investigated, and to hold Nigeria accountable for weaponising its judiciary against political opponents,” the statement cautioned.

Barrister Ifedi highlighted the international consequences of the case, saying: “Nigeria cannot remain a member in good standing of the international legal community while its judiciary aids persecution through unconstitutional rulings. The credibility of the legal profession is on the line. Justice delayed is justice denied. Silence in the face of injustice is an endorsement of oppression.”