Abuja — Prominent legal practitioner and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to conduct a thorough legal review of the cases of South-East detainees held in prolonged custody.
In an open petition titled “From Conflict to Concord: A Statesman’s Opportunity to Complete Nigeria’s Unfinished Promise of Reconciliation in the South-East,” Ejiofor highlighted the humanitarian and legal concerns surrounding the continued incarceration of many individuals from the region, some of whom have been in detention for several years.
Ejiofor argued that such a review would not amount to political concession but would strengthen constitutional governance, restore public confidence in the justice system, and consolidate the relative peace achieved in parts of the South-East.
“Your Excellency, I respectfully urge you to consider directing the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to undertake a comprehensive legal review of the cases involving detainees from the South-East who have remained in prolonged custody under circumstances that continue to attract serious legal and humanitarian concerns,” the petition read.
He noted that recent prosecutions had raised questions after some South-East detainees, held for nearly a decade, were tried alongside Boko Haram terrorism suspects. According to Ejiofor, an independent examination of the charges and proof of evidence revealed that many cases were primarily based on alleged IPOB membership and payment of dues.
“Even more alarming was the revelation that many of them were allegedly induced or pressured into entering guilty pleas, following which they were summarily convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 20 to 40 years,” he stated.
The lawyer emphasised that individuals who committed recognisable criminal offences should face full prosecution and appropriate punishment after fair trials. However, those held on disputed evidence, mere association, or insufficient proof deserve an impartial review in line with constitutional rights, natural justice, and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
Ejiofor also touched on the broader security context in the South-East, noting that the situation worsened after the rendition of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and the emergence of splinter voices, particularly that of Simon Ekpa, which complicated the region’s security challenges.
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