By Our Correspondent

Worried by the continous incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto prison, a coalition of Igbo religious leaders, on Thursday sought the unconditional release of the convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu is serving a life sentence at Sokoto Prison following his conviction in 2025 on treason-related charges.

He has appealed the conviction, reports The Guardian.

The coalition disclosed this in a statement titled, “From Aburi to ESN: The Same Twisted Playbook and the Problem Within Igbo Ranks,” signed by Rev. Tony Uzor Anthony on behalf of a coalition of bishops, pastors, priests and custodians of Igbo traditional spirituality across Alaigbo.

The coalition, while seeking the release of the IPON leader, called for the restructuring of Nigeria, saying the country’s current challenges are rooted in unresolved historical grievances and political injustice. Demographics

The religious leaders said they were speaking not from partisan interests but from what they described as a moral obligation to defend truth and protect the Igbo people.

Drawing parallels between the events preceding the Nigerian Civil War and the current situation in the South-East, the coalition argued that both the 1967 Aburi Accord and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) had been misrepresented.

He said: “We speak not from partisan politics but from the moral and spiritual duty to defend truth, protect our people, and confront the recurring betrayal that has long plagued the Igbo nation.

“The same forces that twisted the Aburi Accord in 1967 are at work again today. The method is identical: take an agreement or a defensive initiative born of necessity, distort it through propaganda, and blame the victim for the ensuing crisis.”

According to the coalition, the Aburi Accord reached in Ghana in 1967 provided for a confederal arrangement that would have guaranteed regional autonomy and addressed concerns of marginalisation in the then Eastern Region before it was allegedly distorted.

The religious leaders also defended the creation of ESN, arguing that it emerged after the proscription of IPOB and the deployment of the military to the South-East under Operation Python Dance II.

“The Eastern Security Network (ESN) was birthed by necessity after Igbo governors… unilaterally proscribed IPOB and invited the Nigerian military into our land under the guise of Operation Python Dance II,” the coalition said. Demographics

The group questioned the basis for the proscription of IPOB, insisting that no criminal offence had been established against Kanu or the organisation before the action was taken.

The coalition further maintained that ESN was established to protect communities from attacks by armed herders and bandits, alleging that the organisation had helped shield parts of the South-East from widespread violence.

It also criticised what it described as efforts to portray ESN and Kanu as responsible for insecurity in the region.

The religious leaders questioned the legal basis of Kanu’s conviction delivered on November 20, 2025, by Justice James Omotosho.

He added, “Today, the same voices that invited the army and enabled the insecurity now pour resources… into smearing ESN and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as the architects of the very insecurity they helped create.

“Under what subsisting Nigerian law did Justice James Omotosho deliver the 20 November 2025 conviction?” the group asked, adding that questions surrounding the applicable laws, jurisdiction and fair hearing remained unanswered.

“Reject the lies. Demand that those who claim ESN is the problem produce evidence of who created the conditions for insecurity in the first place.”

Calling on Nigerians, particularly those from the South-East, the coalition urged them to reject what it described as misinformation surrounding the agitation. Demographics

The group also called for Kanu‘s unconditional release, describing it as essential for lasting peace.

The group also called for a return to what it described as the original spirit of the Aburi Accord, advocating a restructured federation or, where that is not possible, the legitimate exercise of self-determination

By George Mgbeleke

Hon. Justice M. S. Liman of the Federal High Court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to give Senator David Mark and other NWC members of the ADC recognition as duly elected National Officers of the ADC.

Hon. Justice Liman, in delivering his judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025; Between: HON. LEKE JOSEPH ABEJIDE VS. AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS & 4 ORS.; held that:

i. The case borders on the internal affairs of the ADC, and the court therefore lacks jurisdiction to entertain same;
ii. The case is not a pre-election matter and falls outside the scope of the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction under Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution;
iii. The Plaintiff lacks locus standi to institute the case;
iv. The Plaintiff failed to exhaust the mandatory internal remedy provided under the ADC Constitution.

In a statement by National Publicity Secretary of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi,the Court then struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction. In delivering his judgment on the merits, Hon. Justice Liman held that Senator David Mark and other members of the ADC National Working Committee were duly elected and ordered INEC to give due recognition to them.

OUR POSITION
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomes this judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, striking out the suit for want of jurisdiction, while also dismissing the Plaintiff’s claims on their merits.

This judgment, once again, affirms our clear position that the issue of leadership remains an internal affair of the party and is therefore not justiciable, especially in the light of the Electoral Act, 2022; and that the emergence of the current leadership of our great party, led by Senator David Mark, was carried out in accordance with the law and the Constitution of the ADC.

While we view this ruling as yet another victory for multiparty democracy in Nigeria, it is our hope that this judgment will help bring to an end all the unnecessary distractions and attempts at judicial manipulation by those who are hell-bent on destabilising the opposition and foisting a one-party rule on the country.

At a time when millions of Nigerians are confronted daily with worsening insecurity, an unbearable cost of living, rising unemployment and declining economic opportunities, our responsibility as a serious opposition party is to present practical solutions as alternatives to the people, not to be bogged down by contrived legal challenges.

Even as we celebrate this victory in court, we remain vigilant, convinced that anti-democratic forces remain active and motivated to continue to pursue their inglorious agenda against the Nigerian people.

We commend the courage shown by the presiding judge in standing firmly on the side of justice. We commend, especially, the Judge’s decision to award fines against the Plaintiff and his lawyers, hoping that this measure will serve as a deterrent to those who may want to pursue such frivolous actions in the future.

We thank our members, supporters and millions of Nigerians who have continued to stand with the party. We urge them to remain focused, united and confident as we continue this journey together.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer, Minna

A retired Director in the Niger State Ministry of Environment,Alhaji Usman Garba Ibeto,has dragged his estranged wife Hauwa Isah Ango before a Minna Upper Sharia Court paying the court to allow access to his two children.

The retired civil Servant who approached the court through his counsel Abdulhakeem Musa Ahmed Esq.in a writ filed before the court, prayed the court that the plaintiff is entitled to unfetted access to his children without any harassment from the defendant.

The counsel also prayed the court to declare an order directing the defendant to release his children, namely Hauwa Usman Garba Ibeto and Mohammed Usman Garba Ibeto every weekend from Friday 4:00 hours to Sunday 4:00 hours.

The plaintiff further requested the court to his children to attend every occasions or Sallah celebration along with him and their other siblings in the interest of Justice and fairness “ so that he can as well parent his children and for such order as the honourable court deem fit to make in the circumstances of the case”

However, in his submission,the counsel representing the defendant, El-Surur Mohammed Abubakar Esq.argued that the plaintiff has no evidence to show to the court that he was denied access to his children by the defendants.

He requested the counsel to present his evidence that the defendant has ever been denied access to their children as claimed by the plaintiff.

At this point the counsel to the plaintiff prayed the court to grant him a new date to file his evidence to enable him present his evidence a request that was granted by the presiding judge Mallam Abdullahi Ahmed.

The case has now been adjourned to 22nd July,2026 for full hearing.

Hauwa Ango Isah has earlier dragged her estranged husband to a Chief Magistrate Court number one on the allegations of assaulting her in his house at M.I Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna.

She reported the case before Tudunwada divisional Police Command alleging that Alhaji Garba Ibeto along with his wife Hajiya Balkisu and his son Bilal Usman Garba jointly assaulted her coursing body harm on her.

He was arraigned on three count charges by the Police and granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must be resident of Minna. The Chief Magistrate, Murtala Bala Ibrahim then adjourned the case to 9th July,2026 for further mention.