Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has faulted the Federal Government’s approach to the long-running prosecution of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, urging national authorities to adopt a political and constitutional solution rather than relying solely on punitive measures.
Obi’s reaction came after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on terrorism-related offences, including incitement of violence, membership in a proscribed organisation, and threats against Nigerian and foreign targets.
Obi: “Arrest and conviction reflect leadership failure”
In remarks shared via his X account, Obi argued that the Federal Government mismanaged the matter from inception, stressing that the controversial arrest, prolonged detention, and eventual conviction point to deeper governance issues.
According to him, “Mazi Kanu’s case should have been handled through dialogue and genuine engagement. His arrest and now his conviction highlight a failure of leadership and a poor reading of the underlying political and social tensions.”
Obi warned that the judgment could heighten instability at a time Nigeria is grappling with economic hardship, rising insecurity, and declining public trust in institutions.
He called on the Presidency, the Council of State, and respected elder statesmen to urgently intervene, insisting that political resolution, not coercion, offers the only sustainable path to peace.
Court affirms Nigeria as indivisible, condemns violent agitation
Justice James Omotosho, delivering the judgement, held that the Nigerian state remains indivisible under the 1999 Constitution and that the right to self-determination cannot be pursued through violent means.
The court found that Kanu’s broadcasts encouraged attacks on security personnel, destruction of national infrastructure, and threats to diplomatic missions. The judge ordered:
Forfeiture of Kanu’s transmitter to the government,
His confinement in a secure correctional facility without digital access,
His relocation outside Kuje Prisons, citing security concerns.
Kanu’s legal team, however, criticized the ruling, alleging that the sentence is “excessive and disproportionate” and confirming plans to appeal.
Transfer to Sokoto raises new legal concerns
Following the judgement, the Department of State Services (DSS) transferred Kanu to the Sokoto Custodial Centre, in line with the court’s instructions.
His former lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, condemned the relocation, arguing that it impedes access to counsel and burdens the defence, raising potential concerns under Section 36 of the Constitution, which guarantees fair hearing and adequate legal representation.
One of Nigeria’s most contentious prosecutions continues
Kanu’s legal troubles began in 2015 when he was charged with treasonable felony and terrorism. After fleeing the country in 2017, he was intercepted in Kenya in 2021 and returned to Nigeria under circumstances his lawyers describe as an “extraordinary rendition,” a move still debated within international law circles.
The case—which intersects issues of federal power, minority rights, national security, and constitutional interpretation—remains one of the most politically sensitive legal disputes in Nigeria’s contemporary history.
With renewed calls for dialogue and fears of escalating tension, the Federal Government now faces mounting pressure to balance law enforcement, constitutional rights, and national unity as the matter heads for appeal.
