Biafra
IPOB LEADER, NNAMDI KANU’S DETENTION: VERYDARKMAN CALLS OUT IGBO ELITE, AS POPULAR HIGHLIFE MUSICIAN ANYIDON DEBUNKS
INTRODUCTION
Maazi Nnamdi Kanu’s detention has once again stirred national conversation. The controversy surrounding the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is making waves again in the public domain following new claims by social media activist Verydarkman.
In his viral video, Verydarkman accused top Igbo elites and wealthy businessmen of allegedly contributing to Kanu’s prolonged detention by the Nigerian government. The outspoken influencer further disclosed plans to organize a nationwide protest demanding Kanu’s release. However, his assertions have been strongly countered by highlife artiste Anyidon, who released a rebuttal video dismissing Verydarkman’s claims as unfounded and divisive.
Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested in Kenya and controversially repatriated to Nigeria in 2021, has remained under trial for years without a final judgment. His continued detention has fueled unrest and insecurity across the South East, sparking waves of civil disobedience, including the now-infamous Monday sit-at-home order. As the debate deepens, Nigerians are divided. While some see Nnamdi Kanu as a political prisoner and symbol of resistance, others view his movement as a catalyst for instability.
This article examines the latest clash of opinions between Verydarkman and Anyidon, traces the timeline of Kanu’s arrest and ongoing trial, and explores how his detention continues to shape politics, activism, and public sentiment in the South East.
A BRIEF PROFILE OF MAZI NNAMDI KANU
Nnamdi Okwu Kanu was born on 25 September 1967. He is a British–Nigerian political activist known especially as the leader of IPOB, an organization that has agitated for actualization for the Igbo in southeastern Nigeria under the banner of a revived “Biafra.”
Kanu became prominent through Radio Biafra, a station broadcasting separatist views and engaging in agitation of what many see as a secessionist agenda. Over time, his activism attracted the scrutiny of the Nigerian state.
In October 2015, he was arrested in Nigeria and charged with offences including treasonable felony and terrorism-related counts. He spent time in detention, and in 2017 was released on bail. Later, after conflicts between IPOB’s Eastern Security Network (ESN) and federal forces escalated, his bail was revoked and his trial resumed.
But the dramatic turn in the case happened in 2021, when Nnamdi Kanu was taken from Kenya and brought back to Nigeria. This rendition has since become a focal point for debates on the bases of legality, sovereignty, and human rights.
NNAMDI KANU’S ARREST AND REPATRIATION FROM KENYA
His Entry into Kenya and the Disappearance
In May 2021, Nnamdi Kanu entered Kenya from Kigali (Rwanda) using an East African Tourist Visa. He stayed at Purple Haze Apartments in Nairobi while planning onward travel to the UK. On 13th May, 2021, he got admitted to Nairobi Hospital due to a health condition and was discharged the next day.
Around June 19th, 2021, Kanu reportedly went to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to pick someone, and thereafter, he disappeared from public view. His secretary, Erina Notala Gitau, later confirmed he had not returned to his previous residence, and that his passport remained in his lodging.
His Abduction, Detention, Transfer
According to affidavits by Kanu’s family, notably Prince Emmanuel Kanu, agents alleged to be from Nigerian security forces abducted Kanu at the JKIA, handcuffed him, moved him forcibly to a house in Nairobi where he was chained, tortured, denied communications, food, water, bathing, and access to medication for eight days, before putting him on a private jet back to Abuja on 27th June, 2021.
During his captivity, he was not presented before a Kenyan court, nor given legal representation or the opportunity to challenge the legitimacy of his detention.
On 29th June, 2021, Nigeria’s Attorney General publicly announced that Nnamdi Kanu had been extradited via the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and security agencies.
These actions were widely characterized as “extraordinary rendition” which simply means the extra-legal transfer of a person from one jurisdiction to another, bypassing formal extradition processes and due legal procedures.
Kenyan Court’s Ruling
In June 2025, a Kenyan High Court delivered a judgment declaring that Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest, detention, and removal from Kenya to Nigeria was unconstitutional, illegal, and in violation of his rights under Kenya’s Constitution and laws. The court held that:
- Kanu entered Kenya lawfully and was entitled to constitutional protection.
- The mode of his arrest, detention, torture and transfer violated his rights to liberty, protection of the person, due process, fairness, and human dignity.
- The Kenyan government had failed to show any formal extradition proceedings or that proper procedures were followed.
- The court awarded Kshs 10,000,000 in general damages to Kanu against the Attorney General of Kenya.
Consequently, the court found that the transfer amounted to collusion between Kenyan authorities or their operatives and external forces.
Despite this ruling, Kanu remains in Nigeria, and the questions of jurisdiction, remand, and trial continue.
KANU’S LEGAL LIMBO IN NIGERIA
Upon arrival in Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanu’s trial resumed in the Federal High Court Abuja. The government amended the charges to include terrorism, in addition to the original treasonable felony counts.
In October 2022, Nigeria’s Court of Appeal discharged Nnamdi Kanu of all criminal charges, citing the irregularity of his rendition from Kenya and ordering that no Nigerian court should try him. The court viewed his abduction and forced removal as a breach of due process and fundamental human rights.
But in December 2022, Nigeria’s Supreme Court reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal, reinstating the charges and ordering that trial should proceed.
Since then, the trial has suffered repeated adjournments, stalled cross-examinations, competence challenges, witness disruptions, and institutional inertia. It remains unresolved, even after years of incarceration without delivering final judgment on the accused.
In May 2025, a prosecution witness identified as “BBB” disclosed under cross-examination that the State Security Service (SSS) was not involved in Kanu’s arrest in Kenya, asserting that the SSS operates solely within Nigerian territory. Similarly, the witness denied that SSS or DSS personnel were part of the rendition operation.
This testimony is intended to counter the narrative that Nigeria’s secret police engaged in foreign kidnappings. However, critics argue it skirts the larger issue of coordination and complicity among multiple state agencies.
Thus, as of 2025, Kanu is still under trial but without final adjudication, in detention, under continued legal contestation.
THE AFTERMATH OF KANU’S INCARCERATION IN THE SOUTH-EAST
Almost immediately after Nnamdi Kanu’s rendition, the South-Eastern region experienced a sharp escalation in insecurity characterized by attacks on police stations, burning of government installations, assaults on military and civilian targets, and general breakdown of law and order. Some incidents were attributed by the federal government to IPOB and ESN, even though IPOB often denied direct involvement.
The security tension worsened the region’s economic instability and amplified fears among citizens, particularly on road travel and commerce in border towns.
One of the most potent instruments in IPOB’s agitation has been the “Monday sit-at-home” – a call for residents to remain indoors every Monday in protest or solidarity for Nnamdi Kanu’s release. On many occasions, this order has paralyzed economic activities across the South-East.
Critics argue that the sit-at-home has been coercively enforced, with violent consequences for defaulters. Shops are being burned, and people are being attacked. Supporters say it’s a form of non-violent civil disobedience invoking moral pressure on the government.
Over time, many citizens have grown weary of repeated sit-at-home orders, citing economic losses and threats to local livelihoods.
The chaos challenged State governments in Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi to respond, sometimes, by deploying local vigilante groups, working with federal forces, or negotiating with IPOB intermediaries. Some governors criticized the federal government’s heavy-handed approach but often had limited leverage.
The cyclical nature of protests, enforced lockdowns, and security crackdowns left residents caught between militant agitators and State security forces, thereby eroding trust in both sides.
VERYDARKMAN’S CALLOUT
Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as Verydarkman – a social media influencer and activist known for spotlighting corruption, injustice, insecurity, and accountability issues in Nigeria decided to lend his voice on Nnamdi Kanu’s prolonged detention. Positioning himself as the “voice of the people”, Verydarkman is recently championing the cause of Nnamdi Kanu’s release, joining calls for mass protests.
In a trending video, Verydarkman asserted that some Igbo elites and big business personalities are complicit in keeping Kanu detained. He argued that: these elites have relationships with federal power and thus, benefit from Kanu’s continued absence; they (Igbo elites) deliberately block his release by lobbying or influencing government machinery to maintain the status quo; they fear the rise of Kanu as a mass agitator, which might threaten their own influence or patronage networks; the struggle for Kanu’s release cannot succeed, unless the Igbo grassroots take ownership and challenge the collusion of their own elite in the case.
Verydarkman has also announced intention to lead or join protests planned to hold around 20 October in Abuja and other cities for Kanu’s release.
In a video posted on social media, he reiterated that the federal government alone is not to blame. Some Igbo “moneyed men”, he said are using their clout to suppress the movement.
However, as with many viral campaigns, the identities of the so-called “elites” are not specified. This is a gap that critics say undermines Verydarkman’s claim.
Verydarkman has linked the planned protest to the Sowore/Atiku-led “freedom for Kanu” agenda, aligning himself with broader pro-freedom protests. He suggests that as activism intensifies, the divide between the grassroots and elites will become clearer, exposing the elites who fear disruption versus the youth pushing for radical change. He accused some social media influencers, ostensibly within Igbo circles of being silent, complicit, or profit-driven, rather than genuine in agitation.
Clearly, Verydarkman’s narrative is designed to provoke Igbo self-reflection, activist momentum, and public pressure.
ANYIDON’S REBUTTAL
On the heels of Verydarkman’s claim of the involvement of Igbo elites and businessmen in Nnamdi Kanu’s detention, a well-known Igbo son, popularly known as Anyidon came to push back against the claim. The highlife musician argued that Verydarkman lacked evidence for such claims, and that naming names would strengthen the argument.
Anyidon opined that the problem is deeper than seen, as it involved legal, institutional, and political, rather than personal betrayal. According to him, the Judiciary, the Presidency, security agencies, and constitutional lapses are more to blame than elites.
Anyidon questioned whether Verydarkman understood the complexity of Kanu’s charges, the constitutional constraints, and the international dimensions. He cautioned against divisive narratives that have the possibility of pitting ordinary Igbo people against the elites, as that can fracture solidarity.
Instead of speculative claims, Anyidon called for more focused activism, legal campaign, public education, and organized protests devoid of distractions.
POINTS TO REFLECT ON
By calling out Igbo elites, Verydarkman, on one hand, is forcing public scrutiny on power brokers who are usually shielded. His framing invites ordinary Igbo youth to see their own stakes, not just a remote leader’s fate. Rather than passive victimhood, it seeks internal accountability.
On the other hand, the power of his claim is weakened without identification or documented evidence. Accusing people of sabotage is serious. If unsubstantiated, it invites legal counter or social distrust. The narrative might reduce complex State mechanisms to mere elite collusion, sidelining structural dynamics. Framing Igbo elites against Igbo masses can foster bitter internal divisions, benefit external disruption.
Anyidon’s rebuttal approach demands more rigour and specificity. He is shifting the focus from blame narratives to strategic activism. He emphasizes unity and cautions against internal strife.
However, without acknowledging potential complicity, Anyidon may underplay the role of patronage and elite entanglement in political processes. His critique might be seen as conservative or cautious, especially by youth craving bold confrontation. If his rebuttal does not present an alternative narrative, it may seem more negative than constructive.
THE BIGGER QUESTIONS
In the light of all these, Kanu’s rendition from Kenya, and his detention without conclusive judgment, raise fundamental questions/issues.
- Can State power override law, sovereignty, and constitutional guarantees? The Kenyan court deemed the rendition unlawful, but Nigeria continues to try him. What message does that send about accountability, extrajudicial operations, and the rule of law?
- Is agitational virality enough? Or must the pro-Nnamdi Kanu movement build sustained legal, diplomatic, and political operations?
- The clash between Verydarkman’s emotive narrative and Anyidon’s demand for discipline mirrors emotion vs
- In Nigeria’s politics, elites often hold sway in institutions and policy. If some elites are fearful of Kanu, they may act quietly. The challenge is whether those claims can be proven, or whether blaming them becomes a diversion from confronting State power directly.
- The sit-at-home campaigns and violent enforcement are controversial. While many civilians abide without protest, others suffer loss of income or are coerced into compliance. Can a liberation campaign justify interruption of daily life, especially given State retaliation? This moral tension complicates public sympathy.
Kanu’s drawn-out trial, appeals, and procedural wrangling suggest institutional stress. Backlog, executive interference, changing rulings. A key reform demand may be having courts with transparent procedures, and free of political pressure.
IN CONCLUSION…
Nnamdi Kanu’s detention remains one of Nigeria’s most contested and emotionally charged political dramas. His forcible removal from Kenya exposed risks in cross-border security cooperation and the fragility of human rights protection. His prolonged pre-trial detention has shaken public faith in the justice system, especially when arrests, rulings, and reversals become politically entangled.
And now, Verydarkman has stepped into the saga. Here’s an individual who is publicly seen to be bridging activist zeal and digital influence asserting that Igbo elites are complicit in the suppression of their own people. His narrative, though potent, demands verifiable evidence to solidify its legitimacy. Anyidon’s rebuttal, on his part, counters that bold claims without clarity risk distraction, divisiveness, and strategic loss.
The Kanu agitation must overcome more than official repression. It must contend with internal trust, tactical coherence, legal robustness, and the balance between moral symbolism and pragmatic action.
If the cause is to succeed, proponents must build credible evidence, unite disparate voices, engage legal mechanisms, and sustain public pressure without fracturing from within.
REFERENCES
- https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/8967/eng%402025-06-24
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/
- https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-east/795874-sss-not-involved-in-nnamdi-kanus-arrest-in-kenya-prosecution-witness.html
- https://placng.org/Legist/ipob-leader-seized-in-kenya-dragged-back-to-resume-his-trial
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nnamdi_Kanu
- https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1493526048562378
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPooZEYDJSo
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/793483326620857
You might want to check this out…
