Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on President Bola Tinubu to order a comprehensive review of the cases of Igbo youths who have spent years, some for nearly a decade, in detention across Nigeria without trial. In an open letter dated July 20, 2026, addressed to President Tinubu, Ejiofor argued that the prolonged incarceration of these youths raises serious constitutional and humanitarian concerns and undermines efforts to achieve lasting peace and national reconciliation in the South-East region.
Ejiofor described the call as "neither partisan nor adversarial" but rooted in history, constitutionalism, and a sincere desire to strengthen national unity. "History has entrusted your administration with a responsibility that transcends politics: to consolidate the hard-earned peace in the South-East by ensuring that justice, reconciliation, and the rule of law become the enduring pillars of national unity," he stated.
The lawyer traced the roots of insecurity in the South-East to what he described as a combination of political, economic, social, and security failures, arguing that many residents felt politically marginalised, economically neglected, and exposed to violent attacks. He said those conditions created an environment in which separatist narratives gained traction among disillusioned youths. Ejiofor also argued that the proscription of IPOB under former President Muhammadu Buhari contributed to worsening tensions in the region. "It is pertinent to observe that the proscription of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by your predecessor, an action widely perceived by many as politically motivated, unquestionably contributed to the volatile and precarious security landscape," he stated.
He further linked the deterioration of security to the extraordinary rendition of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu and the emergence of Finland-based separatist agitator Simon Ekpa, saying the period witnessed widespread violence, economic disruption, and displacement across the South-East. According to Ejiofor, many political leaders distanced themselves from the region during the crisis, while those who consistently condemned violence were often misunderstood and vilified. He also noted that allegations of arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and enforced disappearances involving young people from the South-East have continued to generate concern among families and human rights advocates.
While acknowledging improvements under Tinubu's administration, Ejiofor commended changes in the leadership of the Department of State Services and the engagement of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, saying they had contributed to improved security across much of the South-East. "The changes introduced within the leadership of the Department of State Services, together with the constructive engagement of the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, have contributed to measurable improvements in the security atmosphere across much of the South-East," he wrote.
However, Ejiofor maintained that many detainees remained in custody after years of incarceration despite the improved security situation. He expressed concern over terrorism prosecutions involving some South-East detainees, alleging that several had been tried alongside Boko Haram suspects despite what he described as materially different circumstances. He said that after independently examining the charges and proof of evidence filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, he discovered that many of the prosecutions were based largely on allegations of IPOB membership and payment of membership 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 twenty to forty years," he alleged.
According to him, if accurately represented, such convictions raise serious constitutional concerns regarding due process and the rights to personal liberty and fair hearing guaranteed under Sections 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution. Ejiofor stressed that while anyone who committed recognised criminal offences should face prosecution before competent courts, individuals detained primarily because of association or insufficient evidence deserve an impartial legal review. "Those who have committed recognisable criminal offences should unquestionably face prosecution before competent courts of law... Conversely, those whose continued incarceration rests primarily upon disputed assumptions, insufficient evidence, or mere association deserve an impartial review," he stated.
Ejiofor argued that many of the affected youths appeared to be victims of frustration, alienation, and manipulation rather than hardened criminals, urging the Federal Government to reflect on the underlying causes of separatist agitation. He also revisited the post-Civil War principles of "Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction," popularly known as the Three Rs, arguing that many people in the South-East still question whether those commitments were ever fully fulfilled. "History now presents your administration with an uncommon opportunity to transform those enduring aspirations into tangible realities," he said.
The lawyer called on President Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to undertake a comprehensive review of cases involving South-East detainees held in prolonged custody under circumstances that continue to attract legal and humanitarian concerns. He noted that such a move would affirm constitutional governance, strengthen public confidence in the justice system, and consolidate the peace already taking root across the region. "It would represent a profound affirmation of constitutional governance. It would reinforce public confidence in the administration of justice. It would deepen the peace that your administration has helped to restore across much of the South-East," Ejiofor said.
Ejiofor stressed that history would remember leaders not for inheriting difficult circumstances but for resolving them through justice, fairness, and constitutional fidelity. "If this moment is consolidated through justice, fairness and reconciliation, posterity may well remember your Presidency as the administration that finally closed one of the most painful chapters in Nigeria's post-war history," he added.
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