The Igbo Ekunie Initiative, an association of Nigerian professionals based in Nigeria and the diaspora, rejects the life imprisonment sentence imposed on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025.
In press released jointly Signed Chief Chigbo Uzokwelu, President, Igbo Ekunie Initiative and Nze Ifeanyi Asiegbu,
Secretary, Igbo Ekunie Initiative in Enugu.
According to the statement, the court convicted Kanu on seven terrorism-related charges, sentencing him to life imprisonment on four counts, with the terms to run concurrently, after ruling that he failed to enter a defense due to unruly behavior that led to his removal from the courtroom
Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, but the judge opted for life terms, citing a need to temper justice with mercy while noting Kanu’s lack of remorse and the prosecution’s evidence of incitement to violence against security forces and civilians in southeast Nigeria.
Igbo Ekunie posits that the ruling contravenes the October 2022 decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which declared Kanu’s 2021 rendition from Kenya unlawful under international law and Nigerian extradition procedures, discharging and acquitting him.
Kanu’s legal team has filed a notice of appeal against the conviction and sentence, arguing violations of constitutional rights, including fair hearing under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, and reliance on repealed laws under the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.
Key Legal Background:
- 2021 Rendition: Kanu was forcibly removed from Kenya and returned to Nigeria without formal extradition, in violation of bilateral agreements and the UN Convention Against Torture.
- Court of Appeal Ruling (October 2022): The appellate court found the rendition illegal, struck out the charges, and ordered Kanu’s release, a decision the Supreme Court partially upheld in 2023 by remanding the case for retrial but affirming the illegality of the arrest method.
- Ongoing Trial: Despite the higher court’s findings, the Federal High Court proceeded, convicting Kanu based on unchallenged prosecution evidence after he declined to defend himself, citing procedural irregularities.
- November 20, 2025 Judgment: The court held that Kanu’s broadcasts and directives via Radio Biafra incited attacks, justifying the conviction, though it rejected capital punishment as executions are increasingly rare in Nigeria.
Igbo Ekunie further argues that these developments further highlight inconsistencies in judicial application and raise concerns about compliance with superior court precedents, potentially undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s legal institutions. Kanu’s continued detention since 2021, despite the 2022 appellate discharge, also implicates violations of rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Nigeria has ratified.
The Igbo Ekunie Initiative calls for:
- Immediate release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu pending appeal, in line with the Court of Appeal’s 2022 order.
- Full enforcement of appellate and Supreme Court rulings on his rendition and charges.
- Investigation into any judicial non-compliance with higher court decisions.
- Engagement by international bodies, including the United Nations and African Union, for oversight on human rights compliance.
We encourage citizens, media, and civil society to consult primary court documents, including the full judgment transcripts and appellate rulings, for accurate assessment. An independent judiciary is essential for upholding the rule of law, ensuring no individual or group faces disproportionate application of statutes.
Finally, Igbo Ekunie Initiative calls on Igbo politicians, especially those of the ruling Party, the All Progressive Congress, APC to quickly meet and seek for a political solution as was done for Sunday Igboho and others.
