[BREAKING]: Nnamdi Kanu Heads To Appeal Court, Challenges Life Sentences Over Alleged Trial Irregularities (Full Report)

Detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a fresh appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja seeking to overturn his terrorism conviction and multiple life sentences handed down by the Federal High Court on November 20, 2025.

The appeal, filed on February 4, 2026, contests his conviction on seven terrorism-related charges, including allegations tied to broadcasts, incitement, bomb-making directives and unlawful importation of a radio transmitter. The trial court had ordered all sentences to run concurrently.

22 Grounds of Appeal Filed

Kanu’s legal team disclosed that the Notice of Appeal contains 22 grounds, describing it as a “compressed but far-reaching” legal challenge. According to the defence, the issues were streamlined from an initial review of over 1,000 alleged procedural and legal concerns into a more concise filing that focuses on key questions for appellate review.

They stated that the appeal aims to demonstrate what they described as serious procedural lapses and systemic failures during the trial.

Major Arguments Raised by Defence

Disputed “Flight” Narrative:
The defence claims the trial court failed to properly consider the impact of the 2017 military operation at Kanu’s residence, arguing that his absence from Nigeria afterward was mischaracterised as voluntary flight rather than a forced response to security threats.

Alleged Breach of Fair Hearing Rights:
The appeal alleges violations of constitutional fair hearing provisions, including claims that a preliminary objection was not heard, a bail application remained undecided, and judgment was delivered without allowing the defence to file a final written address.

Questions Over Strength of Evidence:
Kanu’s lawyers argue that no direct victims testified to harm or intimidation and that no physical evidence was produced to support allegations of bomb-making. They contend that the conviction did not meet the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.

Claims of Reliance on Unproven Facts:
The defence further alleges that the trial court relied on issues not contained in the formal charge sheet, including references to alleged foreign diplomatic mission attacks, which they say were neither pleaded nor proven.

Legal and Sentencing Disputes:
The appeal also challenges convictions allegedly entered under a repealed terrorism statute and argues that one count related to radio transmitter importation was statute-barred and carried a lower maximum penalty than the time already served in custody.

What Comes Next

The Court of Appeal is expected to review the case records and fix a hearing date in due course. Legal observers say the proceedings could reopen national debates on due process, evidentiary standards and judicial handling of high-profile terrorism cases.

There has been no official response from prosecuting authorities at the time this report was filed.