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By John Ogunsemore
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal to challenge his conviction and sentences imposed by the Federal High Court in Abuja last year.
In the notice of appeal dated February 4, 2026, Kanu is arguing that his trial and subsequent conviction was riddled with fundamental legal errors and amounted to a miscarriage of justice.
Justice James Omotosho sentenced Kanu on November 20, 2025, to life imprisonment after convicting him on all seven terrorism-related charges preferred against him.
The IPOB leader was sentenced to five life terms for terrorism-related offences, 20 years’ imprisonment for being the leader of the proscribed IPOB, and five years’ imprisonment with no option of fine for importing a radio transmitter without a licence.
In his grounds of appeal, Kanu said the trial court failed to resolve “foundational disruption of the original trial process” following the 2017 military operation at his residence in Afara-Ukwu, Abia State.
According to Kanu, the court proceeded to trial and judgement while his preliminary objection challenging the competence of the proceedings remained unresolved.
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Kanu equally accused the trial court of delivering judgment while his bail application was still pending, arguing that this affected the fairness of the trial process.
He also contended that the trial court convicted him under a law that had already been repealed, stating that “the learned trial judge erred in law by convicting and sentencing the Appellant under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, notwithstanding its repeal by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, prior to judgment.”
Kanu further argued that he was subjected to double jeopardy, contrary to Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution, after being retried on facts he said had earlier been nullified by the Court of Appeal.
He also complained that he was denied fair hearing, claiming that he was not allowed to file or present a final written address before judgment was delivered.
Among the reliefs sought, Kanu asked the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal, quash his conviction and sentences, and “discharge and acquit the Appellant in respect of all the counts.”
