The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has dismissed the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sentenced its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment on seven terrorism-related charges.

In a statement issued on Friday, IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, insisted that Kanu “committed no offence known to Nigerian law,” arguing that his actions were rooted in the pursuit of self-determination, a right he said is protected under multiple international treaties.

He accused the trial judge, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, of failing to apply constitutional standards required for criminal convictions.

According to Powerful, the group intends to highlight what it describes as several legal and procedural irregularities in the judgment.

He stated:
“For the avoidance of doubt, no gun, no grenade, no GPMG, no explosive, and no attack plan was ever found on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. None. No witness, civilian or military, ever testified before any court, at any stage, that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu committed any offence known to Nigerian or international law. This is an undeniable fact.”

He added that the Federal Government has continued to “criminalise self-determination,” citing Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

IPOB further argued that insecurity in the Southeast escalated while Kanu was in DSS custody, insisting that incidents recorded during that period could not be attributed to him.

The group referenced earlier military operations such as Operation Python Dance, alleging unresolved human rights abuses.

The separatist group also questioned the legal foundation of the conviction, alleging that the court relied on repealed or non-existent statutory provisions.

It pointed to Section 36(12) of the Constitution, which states that no person shall be convicted of a crime unless the offence and its penalty are clearly defined in a written law.

Powerful said:
“Justice Omotosho has demonstrated, sadly, that he either cannot interpret or refuses to interpret simple English contained in Section 36(12)… Our questions to Justice Omotosho are simple: What written law did you rely on to convict Mazi Nnamdi Kanu? Is that law still in force? If it has been repealed, can a repealed law qualify as a written law under Section 36(12)? Why did you ignore binding Court of Appeal and Supreme Court decisions stating that no Nigerian can be tried or convicted under a repealed statute?”

IPOB reiterated its plan to issue a comprehensive legal response to the ruling and said it would continue engaging international human rights organisations.

The group also renewed its call for a UN-supervised referendum on self-determination.

Justice Omotosho had ruled that Kanu’s Radio Biafra broadcasts and instructions concerning sit-at-home orders constituted acts of terrorism and accepted evidence allegedly linking him to attacks carried out by members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

“Who Openly Negotiate With Bandits Walk Freely” – Anger, Outrage Across Southeast Over Kanu’s Life Imprisonment Verdict

Strong waves of anger have erupted across parts of the Southeast following the life sentence handed down to IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.

Many residents and commentators expressed outrage, insisting that the ruling deepened long-standing grievances about injustice, marginalisation, and selective application of the law.

A public affairs analyst, Mr. Muo, was particularly furious, describing the court’s decision as both “kangaroo” and “a gang-up.”

He rejected the basis of the conviction, saying:
“I do not know Kanu as a murderer or, in their words, a terrorist. You cannot charge one person with terrorism without bringing the so-called foot soldiers who carried out the acts to trial. Kanu is not responsible for killings in Nigeria.”

Muo accused the prosecution of failing to prove its case and said the ruling reflected systemic unfairness.

According to him, “Kanu merely spoke against injustice and marginalisation,” while others who openly promote violence “walk freely.”

He added that for many Igbo, Kanu represents resistance to structural inequality:

“There is no country Igbos don’t travel to for business, yet there is no seaport in the Southeast to ease their trade. Kanu is fighting against such injustices, but he is the one tagged a terrorist.”

In Awka, another resident, Vin, echoed the same outrage, saying the verdict was biased and influenced by a predetermined agenda.

He pointed to the earlier invasion of Kanu’s family home and the killings that followed — incidents he said were never treated with seriousness by authorities.

Bandits responsible for the abduction of more than 30 worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, have reportedly demanded a ransom of N100 million for each captive.

According to relatives contacted by the attackers, the calls began on Thursday, two days after the armed group stormed Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area.

During the assault, the bandits killed three people, kidnapped scores of worshippers, and carted away valuables from the church.

Confirming the situation, the Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, said four members of his household were among those taken.

He narrated how the attack unfolded, noting that “he was inside the church with five relatives when the gunmen struck, but I managed to flee with one ward by jumping through a window at about 6:06 p.m.”

Olukotun added that the kidnappers had started reaching out to families of the victims.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers’ camp, they have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the groups.

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person, but as regards my own people, I have not received any call concerning them, so I am still waiting,” he stated.

The community leader further stressed the need for immediate reinforcement of security in Eruku, a border town near Kogi State that has long suffered from criminal raids.

He appealed to government authorities to strengthen and equip local vigilante groups with modern tools capable of countering armed attackers.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has filed terrorism charges against seven alleged commanders of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), accused of being linked to the jailed Finland-based separatist, Simon Ekpa.

The charges were instituted in three separate suits, FHC/ABJ/CR/632/2025, FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2025, and FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2025, before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, confirmed the development in a statement issued to journalists on Thursday.

Ekpa, a 40-year-old Nigerian-born Finnish national and former municipal politician from Lahti, was convicted in Finland on September 1, 2025, and sentenced to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences, including participation in a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit terrorism, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.

According to Dozie, the seven suspects in Nigeria are accused of receiving funds and other support from Ekpa and foreign-based IPOB members to facilitate the group’s activities in the South-East.

One of the accused, Ibrahim Ali Larabo, described as an illegal immigrant from Niger, allegedly ran an unlicensed Bureau De Change, providing financial services for the Ekpa-led faction, including receiving and disbursing large sums to fund IPOB operations.

“The suspects were established to function as IPOB commanders, arms couriers, arms dealers, Eastern Security Network fighters, and foot soldiers, all directed and funded by Simon Ekpa,” the DSS statement said.

In addition to the Ekpa-linked cases, Dozie reported that the DSS recently secured the conviction of a terrorist known as Ismaila (aka Mai Tangaran), who coordinated the 2012 attacks on the Police Headquarters in Bompai, Kano, and other locations.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him to 15 years on one count and 20 years on three others, to run concurrently, concluding a trial that began in 2017.

Dozie also noted that trials for two internationally wanted suspects, Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Mamuda) and Abubakar Abba (Abu Baara), are set to resume on January 15, 2026, while the prosecution of Khalid Al-Barnawi, accused of masterminding the UN complex bombing on August 26, 2011, continues.

“Barnawi and four others are being tried for the attack, alongside five additional suspects arraigned on a nine-count charge for the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State,” Dozie added.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has expressed optimism that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, could be freed through a political resolution.

Kalu’s remarks come after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on Thursday.

Despite the court’s judgment, the Deputy Speaker assured that all hope for Kanu’s release is not lost.

According to Kalu, efforts are now underway to explore political channels that had previously been constrained while the matter was before the courts.

He emphasized the importance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention, expressing confidence that the President would be receptive to appeals from well-meaning leaders of the South-East region.

“It is now time to explore political solutions that had been hindered because the matter was before the court. But now that the court has finished, it is time to intensify requests for the President’s intervention, and we are sure that the President is not averse to it. We are going to get it. All hope is not lost. Our people should remain calm,” Kalu said.

The Deputy Speaker urged residents of the South-East and Nigerians nationwide to remain calm, noting that ongoing political efforts could pave the way for a peaceful resolution.

The statement was issued by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, emphasizing the House leadership’s commitment to pursuing a diplomatic and political approach in addressing the matter.