By Pascal Ibe

Claim

An X user, @MatthewEkong, has claimed that the US and Russia sent their delegates while the UK promised to monitor Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.

Verdict

While it’s true that the United States officials were seen at the last trial of Mr Kanu on June 19. However, the claim that Russia sent its delegates and UK promised to monitor Nnamdi Kanu’s trial is false as no concrete evidence supports this claim.

Full Text

Last week, the Federal Government closed its case against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, after calling its fifth and last witness.

Kanu is facing an eight-count charge of terrorism filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu, who is also a British citizen, was arrested in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria to face trial for alleged treason.

Abubakar Malami, the former attorney-general of the federation (AGF), said that the IPOB leader was “intercepted through the collaborative efforts of Nigerian intelligence and Security Services.

As the trial of Biafran leader continues, an X user, @MatthewEkong has claimed that the US and Russia sent their delegates while the UK promised to monitor Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.

The claim stated, “Breaking: #MNK court case is becoming more interesting:
USA sent their delegates,
Russia’s government sent their delegates and UK promised to work with MNK’S legal team to carefully monitor every proceeding against MNK court case.

“Hmm Biafrans, should we trust UK?
A. Yes
B. No

The post has already garnered 13k views with over 290 likes and more than 134 reposts.

Verification

United States delegates were indeed seen at the last trial of me Kanu on June 19.

Sahara Reporters was the first news outlet to confirm the presence of the US officials during Mr Kanu’s trial.

Also, IPOB’s confirmation of the presence of US officials at Nnamdi Kanu’s trial comes directly from a press statement issued by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful.

This statement was released shortly after the court proceedings on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

However, no reports from any reputable news organization in Nigeria have supported the other claim that Russia sent their delegates while the UK promised to monitor Nnamdi Kanu’s trial.

There is also no statement by the IPOB publicity secretary confirming this other claim.

FACTWATCH Nigeria checked the official X account of the Russian and UK embassies and found no such information there.

How the UK has reacted since the detention of Mr Kanu

Recall that in June 2021, the British High Commission said it was “in the process of seeking clarification” from the federal government regarding the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Dean Hurlock, a spokesperson of the British High Commission, disclosed that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office “stands ready to provide consular assistance” regarding the matter.

“The British High Commission in Abuja is currently in the process of seeking clarification from the Nigerian government about the circumstances of the arrest,” he said.

He added that the UK “would expect any trial or legal proceedings to follow due process” as Kanu’s prosecution resumes.

In February 2025, Kingsley Kanu, the brother of Nnamdi Kanu, accused the UK government of turning its back, and called on Keir Starmer to “wake up” and “defend British citizens”.

He said the UK government had failed to intervene in his brother’s case.

Conclusion

While the officials’ presence at the last trial of Kanu was true, however, the claim that Russia sent its delegates and UK promised to monitor Nnamdi Kanu’s trial is false as no concrete evidence supports this claim.