The South East Revival Group (SERG) has expressed deep concern over the troubling issues recently raised by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) regarding the ongoing trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday by its National Director of Publicity, Rt Hon Evang. Nnaemeka Aleke, the SERG said the allegations of predetermined bias, procedural shortcuts, and deliberate curtailment of the defendant\u2019s rights\u2014as articulated by HURIWA\u2014require urgent national attention, particularly given the far-reaching implications for judicial credibility, national unity, and democratic stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Troubling Pattern That Endangers the Sanctity of Justice<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG stated that it finds deeply disturbing the pattern of judicial conduct highlighted by HURIWA, particularly the allegations that Justice Omotosho has shown an inclination toward \u201churried, choreographed, and restrictive\u201d proceedings. According to SERG, such a pattern\u2014if left unchecked\u2014risks sending a dangerous message that Nigeria\u2019s courts can be used to legitimise outcomes determined outside the courtroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group stressed that a judge\u2019s primary duty is to ensure that justice is not only done but seen to be done, and that any action capable of raising suspicion of bias threatens the nation\u2019s fragile confidence in the rule of law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow can a defendant incarcerated for over four years be denied adequate time and opportunity to defend himself?\u201d SERG asked. \u201cWhen the court appears more interested in rushing to deliver judgment than in addressing fundamental legal objections, Nigerians are justified to worry that justice is being sacrificed at the altar of political expediency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fundamental Legal Question Ignored: Can Valid Charges Stand on a Repealed Law?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG noted that HURIWA\u2019s concerns over the legal nullity of the terrorism charges against Kanu deserve serious judicial consideration, not dismissal. The group emphasized that the foundation of any criminal trial must be a valid law, and any proceeding anchored on a repealed or non-existent legislation is by definition void.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe court cannot build a judicial edifice on a legal vacuum,\u201d SERG said. \u201cIf the charges are indeed rooted in a repealed statute, then the proceedings automatically collapse, and it is the duty of the court\u2014not the defendant\u2014to raise and resolve that issue before taking a single step forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG warned that failing to address such a foundational defect amounts to a miscarriage of justice, and raises the undeniable suspicion that the court is working toward a predetermined outcome\u2014an outcome that the law cannot sustain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Self-Determination Is a Protected Right, Not a Criminal Enterprise<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG echoed HURIWA\u2019s position that the Nigerian government continues to dangerously conflate self-determination with secession, while weaponizing criminal laws to silence dissent. The group reiterated that under international law, African regional charters, and the Nigerian Constitution, the right to advocate for self-determination is clearly protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo democratic state criminalises peaceful political advocacy,\u201d SERG insisted. \u201cGlobal judicial authorities\u2014from the United States Supreme Court in Brandenburg v. Ohio to the European Court of Human Rights\u2014have affirmed that political expression, even if uncomfortable or unpopular, is protected unless it explicitly and imminently incites violence. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu\u2019s speeches and advocacy do not meet that threshold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The organisation warned that labelling political advocacy as terrorism not only violates global norms but sets a precedent that could be turned against any citizen or region seeking constitutional reforms or restructuring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Judicial Behaviour That Fuels Regional Alienation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG expressed grave concern that the handling of the Kanu case continues to deepen feelings of marginalisation in the South East, raising fears that the judiciary is being used as a tool for political repression. According to the group, the perception that a court is working \u201cto satisfy certain forces\u201d erodes trust in national institutions and widens the gulf between the state and citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA nation already struggling with mistrust cannot afford the impression that the courts are not independent,\u201d SERG declared. \u201cThe judiciary is the last hope of the common man. It must not appear captured or compromised\u2014especially in a case with massive national and international attention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Call for Immediate Intervention by the Court of Appeal and the National Judicial Council<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG commended the decision of Nnamdi Kanu\u2019s legal team to approach the Court of Appeal to halt what it described as \u201covert judicial irregularities.\u201d The group urged the appellate court to exercise its constitutional responsibility with courage and impartiality\u2014just as it did in its earlier landmark judgment in favour of Kanu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is time for the appellate court to once again rise to the occasion and restore public trust by ensuring that justice is done without fear, favour, or external influence,\u201d SERG said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The group also joined HURIWA in calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the conduct of Justice Omotosho to determine whether his actions fall within the acceptable bounds of judicial ethics and independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion: Nigeria Must Choose Justice Over Political Convenience<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG concluded that the Nnamdi Kanu case has become a test case for Nigeria\u2019s commitment to constitutional democracy. According to the group, the issue is no longer just about one man but about whether the Nigerian judiciary can rise above political pressure and affirm its independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHistory will remember this moment,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWill Nigeria choose justice or political convenience? Will the courts uphold the Constitution or bend to external forces? The outcome of this case will either strengthen the nation\u2019s democracy or weaken it beyond repair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SERG reaffirmed its commitment to advocating justice, equity, and fairness for all Nigerians, insisting that no nation can claim to be democratic when its courts are perceived to be instruments of predetermined outcomes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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