Kanu’s Legal Team Moves to Appeal Life Sentence
The legal battle surrounding Nnamdi Kanu took a new turn today as his lawyers signaled their intention to challenge the life sentence handed down by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The announcement came only hours after Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling that has already stirred sharp reactions across political, legal and regional lines. Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, was convicted on seven terrorism related counts. The court imposed a life term on most of the charges, noting its decision was influenced by growing international resistance to capital punishment. The judgment was delivered in a charged courtroom atmosphere, with Kanu removed midway for repeatedly interrupting proceedings. His lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, stepped out of the court complex with a handwritten note of determination, telling reporters that the defense is preparing for what he described as a long journey through the appellate system. “We are heading to the Court of Appeal without delay,” he said, adding that the defense views the conviction as a fundamental misinterpretation of the law. According to him, the case rests on “what was said during broadcasts rather than any proven violent act,” a claim that the prosecution strongly disputes. Kanu had earlier filed a motion urging the Court of Appeal to halt the enforcement of the High Court’s judgment, arguing that some of the statutory provisions relied upon by the prosecution are no longer in force. That motion is still pending, giving the unfolding legal drama another layer of uncertainty. Across the Southeast, political and community leaders continued to react. Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara described the ruling as a symbolic blow to the sentiments of many in the region, while Igbo advocacy groups warned that the sentence risks deepening longstanding grievances. Some voices, including veteran politician Chekwas Okorie, have renewed calls for President Bola Tinubu to consider a political pardon to ease tensions. The matter now moves into a new phase. If the appeal fails, the defense has vowed to continue to the Supreme Court, setting up what could become one of the most consequential constitutional battles of the era. The coming days will determine whether the courtroom becomes a safety valve or the trigger for tense agitation, as both supporters and critics of the separatist leader watch the next steps with quiet apprehension.
| 2025-11-21 10:06:20