The defence team of Nnamdi Kanu has challenged the Nigerian government to defend his conviction in court as his legal battle over a life sentence continues to draw attention in Nigeria and across the African diaspora.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is serving a life sentence at Sokoto Prison following his conviction on terrorism charges. His defence has appealed the conviction and is demanding that the case be heard without further delay.
Lawyer Christopher Chidera, speaking on behalf of the Global Legal Consortium to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, supported the Okwu-Kanu family’s call for the immediate hearing of Kanu’s pending cases before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
The family had said Kanu wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the President of the Court of Appeal seeking the urgent listing and hearing of his cases, citing delays surrounding his detention, conviction and life sentence.
Chidera challenged the Federal Government to appear before the Court of Appeal and demonstrate the legal foundation of Kanu’s conviction.
The defence has raised questions over the written law applicable when Kanu was convicted on November 20, 2025, particularly in relation to Section 36(12) of Nigeria’s Constitution, which requires criminal offences and their punishments to be prescribed by written law.
The lawyer also questioned the effect of Section 97 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and whether proceedings commenced under repealed legislation could continue under the newer law.
The defence argued that the issues should be resolved through judicial proceedings rather than public arguments, urging the government to identify the legislation relied upon for the conviction and explain its legal position before the court.
The appeal is now positioned to test key questions surrounding the statutory basis of Kanu’s conviction, with the outcome likely to remain closely watched by Nigerians and African communities around the world.
