Imprisoned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu has announced the indefinite expulsion of 10 senior members of the group's dissolved third Directorate of State, headed by Chika Edoziem, accusing them of abandoning him in detention, undermining his legal battles, and attempting to hijack the separatist organisation for personal political gain.

In a statement attributed to Kanu and posted on X on Sunday by his brother Kanunta Kanu, the IPOB leader declared that the affected individuals no longer hold any authority to represent or speak on behalf of the group.

“The authority to appoint, discipline, suspend, remove, dissolve, or expel any officer or administration of IPOB is vested in the office of the Supreme Leader. The expulsions announced herein are made pursuant to that authority and in accordance with the IPOB Code of Conduct,” he said.

Those expelled are Chika Edoziem, Tony Nzurumike, Austin Agbanyim, Chukwudi Oforma, Isaiah Ubah, Colins Chinedu, Chinasa Nworu, Fidelis Ejiogu, Chidinma Nworu, also known as Juliet Edward Filatro, and Keke Uda.

Kanu said the expulsions followed what he termed repeated violations of the movement’s code of conduct.

According to him, the affected members were part of the third Directorate of State administration he appointed while being held at Kuje Prison in March 2017.

He noted that the administration’s original six-month tenure expired in September 2017 but continued to function at his discretion until it was dissolved.

Kanu stated that while the dissolution of the administration was an administrative measure, the latest expulsions were disciplinary actions stemming from the conduct of the individuals before and after the dissolution.

He accused the expelled members of abandoning him and other detained Biafrans without adequate legal, welfare, or medical support during their incarceration.

The IPOB leader further alleged that they obstructed efforts by groups including AVID, Rising Sun, and Ambassadors for Self-Determination to raise funds for his medical treatment when he was allegedly critically ill in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu also accused the former officials of attacking his lawyers and collaborating with unnamed political actors in the South-East to undermine his court cases.

He claimed that they falsely blamed his brothers for his return to court after the October 13, 2022, judgment of the Court of Appeal and propagated narratives that President Bola Tinubu would only secure his release if he renounced the Biafra agitation.

“Persistent false claim that my brothers returned me to court after the Court of Appeal discharge of 13 October 2022, when in fact it was my then legal team (including Chief Mike Ozekhome and Ifeanyi Ejiofor) that went back to court instead of filing a preliminary objection to the Federal Government’s application for stay,” he said.

Kanu further alleged that the former officials spread stories that two African countries advised them to abandon him in detention and engaged in campaigns aimed at weakening his influence and taking control of the organisation.

He claimed that some of the expelled members altered the IPOB oath of office to demand personal loyalty and removed officers he had appointed, replacing them with individuals loyal to them.

Warning supporters and sympathisers, Kanu declared that any person or group associating with the expelled members would be considered as acting against the interests of IPOB and the Biafra cause.

He directed members and supporters worldwide to support the fourth Directorate of State administration headed by Chris Nwaọgụ, insisting that the movement remained united under his leadership.