The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has formally appealed his conviction and life sentence.
His lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, confirmed the development in a post on his verified X account on Wednesday.
What the Lawyer Said
Ejimakor wrote:
“The mother of all appeals has been filed, as Mazi Nnamdi Kanu personally appeals against his conviction/sentence…”
Appeal Filed at Court of Appeal, Abuja
According to the appeal document, Kanu’s legal team filed a Notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging:
- His terrorism conviction
- His life imprisonment sentence handed down by the Federal High Court on November 20, 2025
Why the Appeal is Significant
Although the appeal contains 22 grounds, the defence team described it as a carefully streamlined legal battle.
They said their review initially uncovered:
- Over 1,000 alleged defects
- Reduced to 101 key infractions
- Then narrowed to 22 grounds to comply with appellate rules
Key Issues Raised in the Appeal
The appeal also challenges the trial court’s handling of major issues, including:
- The 2017 military invasion of Kanu’s home (Operation Python Dance II)
- Claims that his absence from Nigeria was wrongly presented as “flight”
- Alleged breaches of Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution, including:
- Failure to hear a pending preliminary objection
- Leaving a bail application undecided
- Delivering judgment without allowing the defence to file a final written address
Background
Kanu was convicted on seven terrorism-related counts, including:
- Alleged broadcasts and incitement
- Bomb-making directives
- Unlawful importation of a radio transmitter
Most counts reportedly attracted life imprisonment, with sentences ordered to run concurrently.
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