Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Former lead counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has broken his silence after Nnamdi Kanu formally terminated his services as personal lawyer, declaring that he has deliberately remained silent despite repeated provocations and warning that "time is fast running out."
The exchange marks the latest development in the increasingly public fallout between Kanu and the lawyer who represented him for years in several legal battles arising from his detention and prosecution.
The dispute became public after Kanu issued a formal letter dated July 22, 2026, from the Sokoto Correctional Centre, where he is serving his prison sentence. In the letter, Kanu confirmed that he had previously dismissed Ejiofor verbally and said the latest correspondence was intended to formally document the termination of their professional relationship.
Kanu directed Ejiofor to immediately stop representing him, his family, or the Indigenous People of Biafra in any capacity. He also withdrew any authority previously granted to the lawyer to speak or act on behalf of the organization, insisting that he no longer possessed any express, implied, or apparent mandate.
The IPOB leader further warned Ejiofor against making public statements on matters relating to him or disclosing confidential information obtained during the course of their lawyer-client relationship. He stated that any unauthorized disclosure could amount to professional misconduct and expose the lawyer to disciplinary proceedings and other legal consequences.
Responding publicly for the first time since the letter emerged, Ejiofor issued a strongly worded statement in which he questioned what he described as the sudden anxiety surrounding his silence.
Without directly responding to every allegation contained in the letter, he said he had consistently exercised restraint over the years despite facing threats, attacks, and repeated provocations.
Ejiofor maintained that his conduct throughout his legal representation of Kanu had been guided by professional ethics and respect for the legal profession. He insisted that he would not be held responsible for the consequences of another person's actions or decisions.
He also dismissed what he described as "concocted or apparently forged correspondence hurriedly assembled by overzealous actors," an apparent reference to the letter announcing the termination of his services.
Questioning the timing of Kanu's warning about confidentiality, Ejiofor asked why there was a sudden attempt to invoke professional privilege after years of silence on his part. He argued that his refusal to publicly disclose sensitive information should not be mistaken for weakness.
In what many observers interpreted as a warning of possible future revelations, Ejiofor stated that "time is fast running out," adding that although he had chosen not to speak, "it is only a matter of time." He did not elaborate on what information he might disclose or what consequences he was referring to.
The disagreement follows months of reported tension surrounding Kanu's legal representation.
Earlier this year, Christopher Chidera, a member of Kanu's defense team, claimed that the decision to remove Ejiofor was influenced by alleged professional shortcomings during Kanu's terrorism proceedings. Chidera accused the former legal team of making critical legal errors that he argued contributed to the prolonged detention of the IPOB leader. Ejiofor has not publicly accepted those allegations.
Ejiofor had been one of Kanu's most visible lawyers for several years, regularly addressing the media after court proceedings and issuing statements on behalf of his client. He played a central role during Kanu's various court appearances following his arrest and extradition to Nigeria.
The latest exchange signals a complete breakdown in that relationship and raises questions about the future management of legal and public communications relating to Kanu's case.
Neither Kanu nor members of his current legal team have publicly responded to Ejiofor's latest remarks beyond the contents of the termination letter.
The development has generated widespread reactions among legal observers and supporters of the IPOB leader, with many closely watching whether the dispute will escalate further following Ejiofor's warning that his silence may not continue indefinitely.
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