Abuja, FCT — The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-East), Mrs. Chioma Wesley, has clarified that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot intervene or make any public pronouncement regarding the ongoing trial of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking with State House correspondents on Monday, November 10, 2025, Wesley emphasized that the matter remains sub judice, stressing that the President is committed to upholding the rule of law.
“Nnamdi Kanu’s case is in court, and the President cannot make any pronouncement on it. He abides strictly by the rule of law. For now, we will wait for the court to make that decision,” she said.
Wesley, alongside three other presidential aides representing various regions, had earlier briefed President Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa on community engagement initiatives and grassroots feedback from citizens.
South-East Citizens’ Assembly Launched
Wesley revealed that her South-East office recently established a Citizens’ Assembly — a platform designed to bridge communication between the Tinubu administration and communities across the region.
“We hit the ground running by setting up a citizens’ assembly where we can hear directly from people in the South-East about the President’s policies.
Our greatest weapon is feedback — we are ensuring that citizens are aware of what President Tinubu is doing for them,” she explained.
The presidential aide’s remarks come amid renewed calls, especially from leaders and civil society groups in the South-East, urging the federal government to release the IPOB leader.
Kanu, who was re-arrested and extradited to Nigeria in June 2021, remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), facing multiple terrorism-related charges.
Court Gives Nnamdi Kanu ‘Last Chance’
In a related development, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, recently warned that Kanu has been given a final opportunity to defend himself in his ongoing trial.
The court issued the warning on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, after Kanu once again refused to open his defence, insisting that the federal government has “no valid charges” against him.
Kanu’s defiance comes after he dismissed his legal team, opting to represent himself — a decision that has further complicated the already high-profile case.
Justice Omotosho had previously pleaded with the IPOB leader, “in God’s name,” to cooperate with the judicial process, underscoring the court’s willingness to ensure a fair trial.
As the legal battle continues, President Tinubu’s administration maintains that it will allow due process to take its full course without political interference.
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