Nnamdi Kanu: Any Appeal Without Political Alignment is Dead on Arrival – IPOB Lawyer Warns

The lawyer to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has cautioned that any rushed appeal against the recent judgment on Nnamdi Kanu will fail without solid political groundwork and high-level coordination.

Ejiofor issued the warning in a lengthy letter shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, stressing that strategy, not public showmanship, must now guide every decision surrounding the case.

Ejiofor calls for strategy over emotions

He said rising emotions, misinformation, and loud public declarations were distracting well-meaning supporters, adding that the situation required sober reasoning rather than dramatic statements.

According to him, many people have reached out across the world, concerned about Kanu’s legal future after his life sentence by the Federal High Court.

Ejiofor explained that he chose to speak openly so that those calling for his return to the legal team could understand the realities surrounding the matter. He said Kanu’s legal journey had become complex, involving the law, politics, diplomacy, and public sentiment.

Need for heavyweight political intervention

The IPOB lawyer emphasised that the first urgent step must be a coordinated intervention from Igbo political leaders, respected figures, and senior legal experts with national influence.

He noted that only individuals with integrity, credibility, and political strength could drive meaningful engagement with the Federal Government.

According to him, the names of such personalities would not be mentioned for strategic reasons.

Ejiofor insisted that the group should include South-East state executives, Igbo members of the federal cabinet, and other prominent leaders whose voices command influence across Nigeria.

Building a strong legal team

He added that once the political group is fully established, a powerful team of legal experts with international recognition must take charge of the legal process, especially the appeals that may follow.

He warned that this was not a time for inexperienced lawyers or legal theatrics, describing the moment as one that required “master craftsmen of the law.”

Mandatory visit to Nnamdi Kanu

Ejiofor stated that before any legal document is prepared, the combined political and legal taskforce must first visit Nnamdi Kanu in the correctional centre.

He said the visit was essential for four key reasons:

a. to secure Kanu’s full mandate,

b. to agree on a single strategy,

c. to set clear expectations, and

d. to ensure unity among all participants.

He stressed that after this unified mandate, the team must begin quiet and meaningful engagement with the Federal Government. According to him, such political steps must receive full attention before filing any appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Warning against rushed actions

Ejiofor strongly warned that any appeal filed without political preparation would fail immediately.

He described such a move as “dead on arrival,” explaining that it would collapse due to prejudice, technical errors, and legal complexities.

He wrote: “Any appeal rushed to court at this moment, without groundwork, without political alignment, without strategic coordination, will arrive, tragically, dead on arrival, smothered under prejudice, technical pitfalls, and procedural quicksand”.

He said his statement was not pessimistic but based on experience and honest assessment. He also urged supporters to avoid emotional outbursts, hostile comments, and unnecessary online fights, which he said could damage the entire effort.

Caution against opportunists

The IPOB lawyer added that some individuals might use the situation to gain political relevance through loud statements and public drama.

He noted that some of these individuals even contributed to the situation they now seek to comment on.

Ejiofor stated that this process must happen with little publicity because sensitive political negotiations cannot survive under the spotlight. He said success is often achieved in private discussions, not in highly publicised debates.

Hope for a positive outcome

He acknowledged the pain, shock, and confusion felt by many people since Kanu’s life sentence, but assured them that hope is not lost.

He wrote that the right strategy, calm execution, and coordinated action would eventually lead to a favourable outcome.