Tag: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA

  • Kanu Requests New Judge, Opposes Resumption of Trial

    Kanu Requests New Judge, Opposes Resumption of Trial

    Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, remains firm in his objection to the resumption of his trial, citing a lack of trust in Justice Binta Nyako. 

    He insisted that the judge should step aside, despite the Federal Government’s push for proceedings to continue under her oversight.

    The case has faced multiple twists since Kanu’s re-arrest and extradition from Kenya in 2021. Initially handled by Justice Nyako since 2015, the trial saw her step down in September 2024 after Kanu challenged her impartiality.

     However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court reassigned the case back to her, stating her long-standing familiarity with it. 

    Kanu’s legal team contends that Justice Nyako’s decision to recuse herself still stands, making the Federal Government’s push for trial resumption improper. 

    Meanwhile, government lawyers argue that her recusal was not formalized by the required legal process and demand a trial date.  

    The prolonged legal battle, involving allegations of treason and terrorism, has kept Kanu in custody under the Department of State Services, with repeated bail applications denied.

     The dispute over the judge’s role further delays proceedings, leaving the case in a state of uncertainty.

  • IPOB Opposes RUGA in S/East, Warns Against Cattle Settlements

    IPOB Opposes RUGA in S/East, Warns Against Cattle Settlements

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has firmly rejected plans to introduce cattle ranching or settlement schemes, including RUGA, in Nigeria’s South-East region. 

    The group issued a stern message to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, warning that any such initiative would be met with resistance.  

    RUGA, a policy aimed at resolving herder-farmer conflicts through designated settlements, has been a point of contention in the region. 

    IPOB reiterated its longstanding opposition, arguing that such schemes could serve as a cover for herdsmen camps and potentially disrupt the peace in the South-East.  

    In a New Year address, IPOB leadership also cautioned Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah against implementing RUGA within the state. 

    The group stated that any attempt to enforce cattle settlements in Biafraland would provoke strong opposition, emphasizing their determination to protect the region’s sovereignty.  

    This development signals growing tension over federal policies related to cattle grazing and land use in Nigeria.