The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has demanded the immediate release of its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, accusing the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, of bias and political interference in his conviction.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB alleged that Justice Omotosho convicted and sentenced Kanu without substantial evidence, describing the ruling as a miscarriage of justice allegedly influenced by political interests within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to the group, Kanu was convicted “without proof and without allocutus,” adding that his subsequent transfer to Sokoto was intended to frustrate his legal defence and make access to lawyers and funding of his appeal extremely difficult.

“This was not justice. It was vendetta dressed in robes,” IPOB stated.

The group further accused the judge of acting in the interest of political actors, claiming that insecurity has since spread to regions previously regarded as relatively safe.

“While Justice Omotosho busied himself doing the bidding of his APC political masters by jailing an innocent man, the very forces he sought to appease have now carried terror into Yorubaland itself,” the statement alleged.

IPOB claimed that Kanu had repeatedly warned that injustice would eventually affect all regions, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or political alignment, adding that recent security challenges across the country validated those warnings.

The group also challenged President Bola Tinubu to justify Kanu’s continued detention amid what it described as worsening insecurity nationwide.

According to IPOB, advisers encouraging the Tinubu administration to sustain Kanu’s detention were exacerbating national instability rather than protecting Nigeria’s unity.

“Those advising this administration to continue the unlawful detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are not defending Nigeria; they are accelerating its collapse,” the group said.

IPOB insisted that Nigeria would not experience lasting peace until justice is restored, stressing that Kanu’s release was “not a concession but a necessity.” It warned that history would judge those responsible for his imprisonment.

Kanu was convicted in November on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to life imprisonment. The court imposed life sentences on counts 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the seven-count charge, while he received 20 years’ imprisonment on count 3 and five years on count 7.

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The convicted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, challenging his conviction and life sentence handed down by the Federal High Court.

In the appeal filed on 4 February 2026, Mr Kanu named the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the respondent and urged the appellate court to “quash, reverse and set aside” the judgment delivered against him in November 2025.

Background of the Conviction

On 20 November 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, convicted Mr Kanu on seven terrorism-related counts and sentenced him to life imprisonment and other varying prison terms. He is currently serving his sentence at a correctional facility in Sokoto State.

The offences include acts preparatory to terrorism, inciting attacks on security personnel and their families, directing the manufacture of improvised explosive devices, leading and belonging to the proscribed IPOB, and making broadcasts allegedly intended to intimidate the public. He was also sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for importing a radio transmitter without a licence.

Grounds of Appeal

Mr Kanu’s notice of appeal contains 22 grounds, accusing the trial court of multiple legal and procedural errors. He argued that his preliminary objections and pending bail application were ignored, and that he was convicted despite an earlier Court of Appeal decision declaring previous proceedings a nullity.

The appellant further contended that the trial judge failed to address the procedural consequences of the disrupted 2017 trial following the military raid on his residence. He also accused the court of misdirection for treating his absence from Nigeria as adverse, insisting he fled for safety reasons.

Other grounds include claims that he was convicted under a repealed law, subjected to a retrial on overlapping facts, and sentenced without mitigation or allocutus. He maintained that his right to a fair hearing was breached.

Based on these arguments, Mr Kanu asked the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal, quash his conviction on all counts, set aside the sentences, and discharge and acquit him entirely.

Trial History and Self-Representation

Mr Kanu was first arrested in October 2015 on charges including treasonable felony and unlawful possession of arms. He was granted bail in 2017 but fled Nigeria after soldiers reportedly raided his home in Abia State.

He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 and returned to Nigeria to face trial. The case was reassigned to Justice Omotosho in March 2025 after previous judicial recusals.

In October 2025, Mr Kanu dismissed his legal team and opted to represent himself. He repeatedly refused to open his defence, arguing there was no valid charge against him. After several adjournments and warnings, the court ruled that he had waived his right to defence.

Recent Developments

On 27 January 2026, Justice Omotosho struck out a motion filed by Mr Kanu seeking his transfer from the Sokoto correctional centre to the Abuja facility.

Supporters of the IPOB leader have described the appeal as the “mother of all appeals”, with observers noting that its outcome could have broader implications for separatist tensions in south-east Nigeria.

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by detained IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, who sought to be transferred from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a custodial facility closer to the Federal Capital Territory.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling on Monday, rejecting Kanu’s ex-parte motion on the grounds that the Federal Government and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) must be heard before any transfer order can be issued.

Kanu Wanted Transfer to Kuje or Keffi

Kanu, through the Legal Aid Council, had approached the court seeking an urgent order directing the government to move him to the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or the Keffi Custodial Centre in Nasarawa State.

He also asked the court to consider other facilities within its jurisdiction such as Suleja or Keffi to enable him properly pursue his appeal against his conviction.

But Justice Omotosho ruled that such an application could not be granted in secrecy or without hearing from the opposing party.

“The Federal Government must be put on notice,” the judge held, stressing that all sides must be heard “in the interest of justice.”

The court then fixed January 27, 2026 for hearing the substantive motion.

Background: Conviction & Transfer to Sokoto

On November 20, the court convicted Kanu on all seven terrorism-related charges filed against him by the Federal Government and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

He was later transferred to the Sokoto Correctional Centre following what authorities described as security concerns at the Kuje facility — a prison notorious for previous jailbreaks.

Kanu’s Camp: Sokoto Detention ‘Frustrating Appeal’

Kanu’s legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, separately filed a motion personally signed by Kanu and asked the court to deem it “moved in absentia.”

The application argued that detaining the IPOB leader over 700 kilometres away in Sokoto has made it nearly impossible to prepare his notice and record of appeal.

Ejimakor stated that all persons essential to Kanu’s legal defence including relatives, associates, and legal consultants are based in Abuja, not Sokoto.

What Happens Next

The court will hear the transfer request on January 27, 2026, after which it will determine whether Kanu can be moved to a facility closer to his legal team or remain in Sokoto.

Until then, the IPOB leader continues serving his sentence in the North-West state.

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Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been convicted on terrorism charges filed against him by the Nigerian government. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho.

Kanu, who had previously resisted the court proceedings and refused to participate in his defence, was found guilty on all counts. According to Justice Omotosho, the court had no choice but to rely on the evidence presented by the prosecution after Kanu declined to engage in his defence.

“As an Apostle of Jesus Christ, I begged Kanu passionately to enter his defence, but he obstinately refused,” Justice Omotosho said.

Key Convictions

• Terrorism through broadcasts: Kanu was found guilty of inciting violence through broadcasts linked to IPOB activities.
• International terrorism: The court ruled that Kanu qualifies as an international terrorist.
• Sit-at-home orders in South-East Nigeria: He was convicted for enforcing sit-at-home directives that disrupted businesses and daily life across the South-East states.
• Murder of Ahmed Gulak: The court linked Kanu and members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) to the murder of the former politician in Imo State.
• Leadership of a proscribed organisation: Kanu was also convicted for leading IPOB, which is officially listed as a terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

Justice Omotosho emphasized that Kanu’s refusal to enter a defence left the court with no alternative but to act on the incontrovertible evidence presented by the prosecution.

The court’s ruling marks a major development in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism and separatist agitation in the South-East.

More updates to follow…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered security operatives to forcibly remove detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from the courtroom after the proceedings were repeatedly disrupted.

The dramatic scene unfolded moments after Kanu insisted that the court could not proceed with delivering judgment in the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.

Kanu, who raised his voice several times, demanded that the judge show him the section of the law that barred him from submitting a final written address. His outbursts halted the proceedings, prompting Justice Omotosho to stand down the matter while security agents escorted him out.

Before the disruption, Justice Omotosho had dismissed fresh applications filed by Kanu despite the case already being scheduled for judgment. According to the judge, the motions merely rehashed arguments previously raised and resolved in earlier rulings.

The court also rejected Kanu’s request to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal, citing Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which prohibits the stay of proceedings in criminal trials.

Additionally, Kanu’s bid for bail was turned down. Justice Omotosho, however, noted that some of the issues raised by the IPOB leader would be addressed during the final judgment.

The court has now commenced reading the judgment in the high-profile case.