By Calista Oyeoba / Posted November 28, 2025
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), questioning the Federal Government over alleged violations of his fundamental rights. The three-member panel ruled the case had become an “academic exercise” after Kanu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on November 20, 2025 for terrorism charges.
Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, who delivered the lead judgment, said Kanu’s lawyer Maxwell Opara had confirmed that his client was already serving his sentence at Sokoto Correction Centre, making the appeal’s request to transfer him from DSS custody to Kuje prison is irrelevant. The court also, stated that Kanu had been making plea to be restricted in a prison custody and that, his current detention meets that prayer.
The Biafran leader had earlier appealed a July 3 judgment of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, dismissed his suit for enforcement of his rights.
However, the Federal High Court recently convicted him on seven counts of terrorism, with Justice James Omotosho stating the prosecution proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.