The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a 22-ground appeal challenging the November 20, 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.
Kanu who was convicted on a seven-count terrorism charge preferred against him by the Federal Government, in the notice of appeal, which he personally signed, argued that the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, erred in law and that the proceedings resulted in a grave miscarriage of justice.
Kanu in his first ground of appeal, contended that the trial court failed to resolve the legal consequences of the disruption of his earlier trial following the September 2017 military operation known as Operation Python Dance II.
He told the Apoeal court that his residence at Afara-Ukwu was invaded by state agents during the operation, leading to deaths, destruction, and the collapse of the original trial process.
“The said operation resulted in deaths and destruction and triggered disruption of the earlier proceedings,” he stated.
According to the IPOB Leader, “The judgment of conviction was delivered on 20 November 2025 notwithstanding the unresolved foundational competence issues,” Kanu said.
Furthermore, Kanu said that Justice Omotosho erred in law by proceeding with trial and judgment without hearing and determining his pending preliminary objection, which challenged the competence of the proceedings on jurisdictional grounds.
Arguing further on another ground of appeal, Kanu maintained that the trial court proceeded to judgment and convicted him while his bail application was still pending, a development he said undermined the fairness of the trial.
He also faulted the sentencing process, arguing that the court imposed sentence without taking his allocutus, the opportunity for a convicted person to address the court in mitigation.
“Upon conviction, the Appellant was not afforded the opportunity to address the court in mitigation (allocutus).
“Sentence was imposed without allocutus. The court did not consider relevant mitigation or sentencing factors,” Kanu insisted
Not relenting, Kanu therefore described the life sentence as excessive and unlawful.
Based on the points of apoeal, the IPOB Leader urged the Court of Appeal to quash his conviction on all counts in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.
