Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will launch an immediate appeal against his life imprisonment sentence handed down Thursday by a federal court, his legal consultant announced, as the ruling on terrorism charges threatens to ignite fresh unrest in Nigeria’s volatile southeast.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, convicted Kanu on multiple counts under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013, sentencing him to life on five charges related to managing a terrorist group, incitement and unlawful sit-at-home orders, a 20-year term on one count and five years on another, with no fines.
Kanu, 58, who has been detained since his 2021 forcible rendition from Kenya, was ejected from the courtroom after refusing to acknowledge the judge’s authority, shouting accusations of an “illegal trial” before security agents removed him amid chaos.
Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s former lead counsel turned consultant, confirmed the appeal strategy to reporters outside the court, declaring: “We are heading to appeal.”0041fc
Ejimakor signalled a multi-tiered fight, hinting at escalation to regional and international bodies: “The judgment is perverse on the facts and the law. We will take it to the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, ECOWAS and beyond if necessary.”
The verdict, capping a four-year trial fraught with procedural disputes, stems from Kanu’s Radio Biafra broadcasts and IPOB activities deemed terroristic, including calls for violence against security forces. IPOB, proscribed in 2017, has enforced economic shutdowns in the southeast, costing billions and sparking clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives.
Kanu’s supporters decried the outcome as “judicial murder,” with IPOB spokesperson Emma Powerful stating: “Onyendu remains our unbowed leader. This sentence changes nothing; the Biafran restoration marches on.” Rights groups like Amnesty International echoed concerns, calling it a “travesty that silences dissent under the guise of security.”
The government welcomed the ruling as a deterrent to separatism, with Information Minister Mohammed Idris saying: “Justice has been served. Those who threaten national unity must face consequences.” Sentencing details include concurrent terms, but the life sentence dominates.
As Kanu returns to DSS custody, the appeal filing deadline looms, potentially prolonging the saga and testing Nigeria’s judiciary amid global scrutiny over his rendition and trial fairness.
