The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed reports claiming that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman of the Council, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, ordered the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), or mandated his repatriation to Kenya.
In a statement signed by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, the NJC clarified that no court proceedings, decisions, or judgments have been issued by the CJN regarding Kanu’s release.
The Council further stated that Justice Kekere-Ekun has not presided over any case involving Kanu at the Supreme Court, nor made any pronouncement on his trial.
The clarification follows ongoing legal proceedings concerning Kanu, who has been in detention at the Department of State Services (DSS) facility for nearly four years.
His case has seen multiple legal turns, with the Supreme Court on December 15, 2023, ruling that Kanu must stand trial on the remaining seven charges against him.
The apex court overturned a Court of Appeal decision that had discharged him, ruling that although his extradition from Kenya was illegal, it did not nullify the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction over his trial.
In March 2025, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, reassigned Kanu’s case to a new judge after Kanu petitioned against the previous trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, accusing her of bias.
The petition, dated January 13, 2024, was addressed to the CJN in her role as NJC Chairman.
The NJC stressed that its statement was necessary to counter misinformation regarding the judiciary’s role in the case. It reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that judicial processes remain transparent and fair.
Kanu remains in detention as legal proceedings continue. The NJC urged the public to rely on accurate and official sources for information on judicial matters.
