'This is a constitutional crime!' - SERG Rejects Nnamdi Kanu Conviction

The South East Revival Group (SERG) has issued a scathing condemnation of the judgment handed down by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which convicted Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a statement signed by its National Director of Publicity, Rt. Hon. Evang. Nnaemeka Aleke, SERG described the ruling as a judicial aberration and a deliberate attack on the principles of fair hearing, natural justice, and due process.

SERG accused the court of disregarding fundamental legal standards, bypassing unresolved jurisdictional challenges, and acting with undue haste, raising serious concerns about judicial impartiality. The organisation highlighted that Kanu was convicted under the repealed Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, despite the law being replaced by the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022. According to SERG, this contravenes Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution, which forbids convicting a citizen under a law that no longer exists, rendering the trial legally void from the outset.

The group further criticized Justice Omotosho for proceeding with the trial despite pending motions, appeals, and jurisdictional questions, describing this as judicial aggression and a violation of due process. SERG stated that Kanu’s insistence on resolving the legality of the charges before entering his defence aligns with established criminal procedure and is consistent with constitutional rights to fair hearing.

'This is a constitutional crime!' - SERG Rejects Nnamdi Kanu Conviction — **Chief Willy Ezugwu, President and National Coordinator, the SERG**

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“Fair hearing is not a discretionary privilege; it is a constitutional right that must be protected at all times,” SERG emphasized. The organisation warned that the ruling, which it described as a “judgment of convenience,” risks eroding public confidence in the judiciary and could escalate tensions in the already fragile South East region.

SERG has called on the National Judicial Council to review the conduct of Justice Omotosho and urged the Court of Appeal to intervene and overturn the ruling, insisting that no Nigerian can be prosecuted under an inoperative law. Concluding the statement, Rt. Hon. Evang. Nnaemeka Aleke said, “This judgment is not just flawed; it offends the law, logic, and the conscience of the nation. It must not stand.”

Source: Blessing J. Emmanuel