In a defiant post-judgment address to journalists outside the Federal High Court in Abuja, Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel for the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, declared an immediate appeal to the Court of Appeal, branding the day’s proceedings a stark revelation of “the tyranny of justice” long suspected by observers. Ejimakor, who earlier in the hearing identified himself as a “consultant” when Justice James Omotosho inquired about his representation of Kanu, expressed unyielding confidence that higher courts would overturn the conviction.
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“So from here, we are heading to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal is the only court in this country, or the last court in this country, that sits as a jury,” Ejimakor told reporters. “We are going to approach the justices there to review what happened in court today. And we are pretty sure the justices will agree with us that today was the symbol of the tyranny of justice that everybody has been suspecting all along. If the Court of Appeal disagrees with us, we head to the Supreme Court. But by God Almighty, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not going to stand convicted. He is going to get overturned.”
The 90-day window for appeal, as stipulated by the court, begins immediately, setting the stage for what Ejiofor framed as a pivotal reckoning in Kanu’s protracted legal saga, which dates back to his 2015 arrest and escalated following a 2017 military raid on his Afara Ukwu home in Abia State.
@thenigerialawyer“We’re Heading To The Court Of Appeal” — Kanu’s Lawyer Calls Conviction ‘Tyranny Of Justice,’ Says Verdict Will Be Overturned♬ original sound – TheNigeriaLawyer
Earlier Thursday, Justice Omotosho delivered a mixed but severe verdict in the terrorism trial, convicting Kanu on all seven counts but opting against the death penalty on the most grievous charges. The self-proclaimed IPOB leader, who has been in custody since his 2021 extraordinary rendition from Kenya, received:
| Count | Charge Description | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| 1, 4, 5, 6 | Terrorism-related offenses (e.g., managing an unlawful society, publication of false information) | Life imprisonment (in lieu of death sentence) |
| 3 | Membership in a terrorist organization | 20 years imprisonment (no option of fine) |
| 7 | Unlawful possession of firearms | 5 years imprisonment (no option of fine) |
The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, effectively making life imprisonment the operative term. “I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for counts one, four, five, and six, instead of the death sentence,” Omotosho stated in his ruling. “With respect to Count Three, he is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine. For Count Seven, he is sentenced to five years imprisonment without option of fine. To extend mercy, I hereby order that the sentences shall run concurrently.”
The proceedings, streamed live by major national television stations, drew widespread scrutiny for their high stakes and the defendant’s repeated assertions of innocence, including claims of state-orchestrated persecution.
In Owerri, Imo State—amid subdued discussions across the municipality—reactions ranged from resignation to outright sorrow, reflecting the polarized national discourse on Kanu’s case.
Chief Simeon Odike, a local commentator, expressed little surprise: “I am not surprised by the judgment. I didn’t expect anything less. Have we not lost count of the judgments in favor of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu? Were any of the judgments obeyed? Has anybody paid him the monetary award for damages, ordered by competent courts of the land?” He highlighted unheeded calls for Kanu’s release, including recent appeals from prominent Igbo figures, clerics, and 44 National Assembly members urging President Bola Tinubu to intervene politically.
Mr. Luke Okechukwu voiced deeper dismay: “I am saddened by the judgment of the Federal High Court. The mood of the people amply exhibits the inner feelings of the populace. There could have been a subtle, pleasurable political solution to this case, instead of relying fully on our judicial system. It is sad that those in the corridors of power didn’t want to exploit it. I am aware that the court can give justice but definitely not peace, because they are two different things.”
Mrs. Adaora Okoro, reflecting on the trial’s nine-year arc, added: “The life imprisonment pronounced by this judge did not shock anybody who has been following the case to date. I see it as working from the answer to the question. It is most interesting that the court session was streamed live by major national television stations.”
Kanu’s supporters, undeterred, have mobilized online and offline, framing the sentence as a continuation of systemic bias against separatist voices in the Southeast. IPOB spokespersons reiterated demands for Kanu’s unconditional release, invoking international human rights standards.
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