Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal, contesting the life sentence and conviction imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The appeal notice, which identifies the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the respondent, calls for the appellate court to "quash, reverse and set aside" the sentence enforced by the trial court.
On November 20, 2025, Judge James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Mr. Kanu on multiple counts, leading to a life sentence along with additional varying terms of imprisonment.
Currently, he is serving his sentence at a correctional facility in Sokoto State.
The appeal, submitted on February 4, aims to annul the conviction and related penalties.
Legal Grounds of the Appeal
The appeal document presents 22 grounds of contention, asserting that Mr. Kanu's preliminary objections and a pending bail application were overlooked. It highlights that his conviction occurred despite an earlier ruling from the Court of Appeal that declared the ongoing proceedings null.
He argues that the trial judge erred legally by not addressing the procedural implications stemming from the interrupted trial in 2017.
Additionally, the appeal claims the judge misdirected by negatively interpreting Kanu's absence from Nigeria and states that he was convicted under a repealed law, retried on overlapping facts, and sentenced without proper consideration for mitigation or "allocutus."
As a result, the IPOB leader is petitioning the Court of Appeal to grant his appeal, annul all counts against him, and set aside the subsequent sentences from the Federal High Court.
Furthermore, Kanu seeks an order for his discharge and acquittal concerning all allegations against him.
Background Context
Nnamdi Kanu's legal troubles began with his initial arrest in October 2015 on charges that included treasonable felony and illegal possession of firearms. Following his release on bail in 2017, he fled Nigeria amid an alleged military raid on his residence.
He was apprehended again in Kenya in June 2021 and deported back to Nigeria to face trial on seven terrorism-related charges.
The trial recommenced under Judge Omotosho in March 2025 after several judicial recusal issues. During May and June of the same year, the court mandated strict timelines for the federal government to present its case. In September 2025, Mr. Kanu submitted a no-case motion, which was denied, and the judge subsequently ordered a medical evaluation to determine his fitness for trial.
In October 2025, Kanu removed his legal representation, opting to represent himself and consistently rejected calls to present a defense, claiming the charges against him were invalid. After the judge's attempts to persuade him to defend his stance fell through, Kanu was ultimately considered to have waived his right for a defense.
On November 20, 2025, Judge Omotosho convicted him on all seven charges and mandated a life sentence. Kanu was found guilty of various terrorism offenses, including actions preparatory to terrorism and making threatening broadcasts intended to instill fear in the populace.
Moreover, he received a 20-year sentence for his leadership and membership in the banned IPOB, life imprisonment for inciting violence against security personnel and their families, life imprisonment for orchestrating the manufacturing of explosives, and an additional five years for illegally importing a radio transmitter.
On January 27, the judge dismissed Mr. Kanu's request to transfer his custody from Sokoto to the Abuja facility.
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