Nnamdi Kanu’s Right To Defence Grossly Misrepresented, Says IPOB

• A Call To Accountability for Media Malpractice

In the arena of justice, where the scales should forever tip towards truth and integrity, we find ourselves appalled once again by the deeply flawed reporting from Premium Times surrounding the proceedings of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.

The scurrilous headline proclaiming that “Nnamdi Kanu waives defence in terrorism trial – IPOB cautions” is not just irresponsible; it represents a grave affront to the very essence of journalistic ethics and a distortion of legal realities.

Let us be unequivocal: Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not waived his right to a defence. This false narrative, gleefully parroted from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stands as a stark testament to the dangers of sensationalism over substance in reporting, Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesperson, said in a statement on Monday.

“It is an affront to the integrity of the judicial process and serves to undermine the very principles of fairness and justice that journalists claim to uphold.

“What transpired in the courtroom was anything but a withdrawal of defence. Rather, Kanu, asserting his constitutional rights, ferociously challenged the prosecution to provide a valid legal basis for the charges against him.

“Upon posing the critical question to Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN — ‘Under what law am I being tried?’ — the prosecution faltered, unable to substantiate their claims with the requisite legal framework.

“This prompted the presiding judge to rightly suggest that Kanu articulate his position in writing, a procedural move reflective of due diligence, not an act of capitulation.

“The critical matter at hand is jurisdiction and legality. Kanu’s argument is rooted in a fundamental legal tenet: one cannot respond to charges when the very foundation of those charges remains unproven or effectively nonexistent.”

IPOB argued that the absence of a valid statutory basis renders any purported defence contest practically null and void. “This is a bedrock legal principle, not an act of defiance against the court or the state.”

“It is with deep disappointment that we observe how Premium Times and other media outlets have morphed into mere conduits of state propaganda. In an era where responsible journalism is paramount, the regurgitation of government-fed falsehoods has relegated these platforms to instruments of misinformation. This is not just a failure in reporting; it is a betrayal of public trust.

“We categorically challenge Premium Times and NAN to produce the legitimate legal statute underpinning the charges against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Until they can furnish this critical information, any further talk of a ‘waiver of defence’ is nothing more than the fabrication of an uninformed or malicious media machine bent on misrepresenting the reality of a political dissident’s fight for justice.

“We urge all journalists to rise above the depths of manipulation and propaganda. The Nigerian public deserves nothing less than the truth — a truth unvarnished by state-sponsored narratives that reflects the actual events transpiring in our courts.

“It is time to hold the media accountable for their role in shaping public discourse and to demand accuracy and integrity in reporting, especially when the stakes concern the lives and rights of individuals like Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“The pursuit of truth must transcend political pressures and adhere to the tenets of responsible journalism.
“¹The public’s right to a fair trial and to understand the legal proceedings surrounding it must never be compromised by sensationalist headlines born of ignorance or malice.”