Maxwell Opara, the lead counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has said the trial of his client is a war against the Igbos.

This was after a Federal High Court in Abuja stated that the terrorism charges against Kanu will proceed following a medical report indicating that he's fit for trial.

Addressing journalists after his appearance in court on Thursday, the lawyer alleged that the IPOB leader is being held at the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, because he is an Igbo man.

He said, “The Igbos are on trial. This is a war against the Igbos. You were here when the president ordered the police and the army to go and negotiate with terrorists and bandits.

“Now, somebody who is exercising his right as given to him by the constitution, you said he should enter trial, trial for what? Does the court even have the jurisdiction to entertain this particular matter? Somebody who has been discharged by the Court of Appeal?

“This is a persecution, not prosecution, and I stand by it. I’m calling on the entire Nigerians, it’s the Igbos and Nnamdi Kanu today, it can be another person tomorrow. This is why we are protesting. Why should you be treating a human being like this simply because the person is an Igbo man?

“Can you do it to somebody from the North or West? Nobody is a second-class citizen in this country”.