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The Okwu-Kanu family has called on Nigeria’s judiciary to urgently list and hear two pending cases involving Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, arguing that the same speed shown in 2022 to keep him in detention should now be applied to determine his liberty.
In a press release issued Tuesday and signed by Emmanuel Kanu on behalf of the Okwu family, the family said Kanu had written separately to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal requesting immediate scheduling of his matters. According to the family, the Federal Government has shown “no sign of willingness to join issues” in either proceeding, while Kanu remains in detention serving a life sentence.
The family drew a direct comparison to October 2022. On 13 October 2022, the Court of Appeal delivered a judgment discharging Kanu and quashing the criminal counts against him. The family described it as an “acquittal-equivalent discharge.”
The Federal Government did not release him. By 28 October 2022, barely 14 days later, the government had filed, listed, argued and obtained a civil stay of execution from a differently constituted panel of the same Court of Appeal, the family said. That order, they argued, stopped Kanu from enjoying the liberty granted by the earlier judgment despite the criminal appeal having been finally determined.
“Fourteen days. In fourteen days, the machinery of the Court of Appeal moved from an acquittal-equivalent discharge to a civil stay that kept Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in detention,” the statement read. The family called the use of civil procedure in a concluded criminal case a “constitutionally impermissible hybridisation.” The family said the contrast with current proceedings is stark.
Kanu commenced a proceeding before the Supreme Court on 7 November 2025 challenging the legality of the court’s remittal judgment of 15 December 2023. The Federal Republic of Nigeria was served, but more than nine months later, the family said, no substantive response has been filed and the case has not been listed.
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There is also a separate appeal before the Court of Appeal against Kanu’s 20 November 2025 conviction and life sentence. His Appellant’s Brief was filed on 5 June 2026 and served on the Respondent. The family said the time for the Federal Government to file its Respondent’s Brief has expired, yet no brief has been filed and the appeal has not been listed for hearing.
“When the Federal Government wanted to prevent Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from enjoying his acquittal-equivalent discharge: fourteen days. When Mazi Nnamdi Kanu asks the courts to determine whether his continued detention and life sentence are lawful: months of waiting. Why?” the family asked.
The family said Kanu is not asking for a predetermined outcome, only that the cases be heard.
They are asking the Supreme Court to list and hear the proceeding challenging the 15 December 2023 remittal judgment. They are also asking the Court of Appeal to list and hear the appeal against the conviction and life sentence “without further delay.” They further called on the Federal Government to appear and defend the judicial outcomes upon which Kanu’s continued detention depends.
The Okwu-Kanu family said it will formally notify the United States Congress, the Israeli Knesset and the International Bar Association of what it described as unacceptable delay. Relevant chronology and court records will be submitted, with one central question: why could Nigeria’s appellate machinery move within 14 days in 2022 to stop Kanu’s release, but cannot show comparable urgency now that he is seeking a determination on his detention.
“There cannot be emergency justice when the State seeks detention and slow justice when the citizen seeks liberty,” the family stated. “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
