ABUJA — Prominent human rights lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, KSC, has issued a comprehensive public clarification regarding his legal standing, affirming that he voluntarily disengaged from representing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in December 2023.
The clarification follows a fresh re-appointment letter issued by the Directorate of State (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which formally renewed and restructured Ejiofor’s mandate as General Counsel for the global movement.
Key Points from Ejiofor’s Official Statement
In a statement released on July 28, 2026, Ejiofor addressed what he described as deliberate distortions surrounding his legal role:
- Personal Disengagement from Nnamdi Kanu: Ejiofor stated unequivocally that he personally withdrew from representing Nnamdi Kanu in any private capacity in December 2023, well before Kanu’s conviction and sentencing.
- Continuous IPOB Retainership: He emphasized that his law firm maintained a continuous retainership as solicitors to IPOB, securing the discharge and acquittal of over 200 alleged IPOB members across various High Courts in Abuja, Ebonyi, and Abia States between December 2023 and 2025.
- Institutional Mandate: Clarifying the nature of his initial appointment, Ejiofor noted that Kanu did not independently appoint his firm; rather, Kanu signed the initial May 2, 2017 power of attorney in his capacity as leader of the organization.
- Authentication of Inmate Communications: Ejiofor cautioned against media reports claiming to originate from inmates, reminding legal practitioners and journalists that under the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, any official communication from a prisoner or detainee must bear formal authentication from the officer-in-charge of the correctional facility.
Restructuring of IPOB Legal Representation
INITIAL MANDATE: May 2, 2017 (Signed by Nnamdi Kanu, Uche Mefor, and Chika Edoziem)
KANU REPRESENTATION: Terminated by Ejiofor in December 2023
RENEWED MANDATE: July 27, 2026 (Issued by DOS Head, Mazi Chika Edoziem)
CORE BRIEF: General Legal Representative for IPOB Global Movement
A document released alongside the statement reveals that the Directorate of State (DOS) of IPOB—signed by Head of Directorate Mazi Chika Edoziem—reappointed Ejiofor to reflect the movement’s updated leadership structure.
The new appointment letter overrides the initial May 2, 2017 Power of Attorney, noting that structural changes within IPOB rendered the original letter obsolete, as the offices of “Leader” and “Deputy Leader” no longer exist within the current governance hierarchy.
