The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed as false the media reports alleging that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and NJC Chairman, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, ordered the release and return of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to Kenya.
In an official statement released on Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Deputy Director of Information at NJC, Mrs. Kemi Ogedengbe, categorically refuted the claims, stating that the CJN has no involvement in Kanu’s ongoing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Addressing the misinformation, the NJC clarified that the CJN neither presided over Kanu’s case nor issued any directive concerning his release or deportation.
“The attention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) has been drawn to media reports alleging that the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the Council, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, ordered the release of Nnamdi Kanu and his repatriation to Kenya.
“The council wishes to categorically state that this report is entirely false and a figment of the writer’s imagination, as there has been no court ruling, decision, or judgment attributing such statements to the CJN.”
The NJC further emphasized that the Chief Justice had never written any formal letter to the Kenyan government or the Kenya High Commission apologizing for Kanu’s arrest and trial.
The council condemned the spread of unverified reports, stressing the need for responsible journalism, particularly on sensitive legal and political matters.
“The Hon. CJN never presided over any case involving Nnamdi Kanu at the Supreme Court, nor did she issue any pronouncement on jurisdiction matters related to the trial. The public is strongly advised to disregard this misleading and fabricated story.”
This rebuttal comes amid heightened speculation and political discourse surrounding Kanu’s prolonged detention and legal battle, which has remained a contentious issue in Nigeria’s judicial and political landscape.
