Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria to form an independent Biafra, has been at the center of one of Nigeria’s most protracted and controversial legal battles.
His case, involving charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through broadcasts, has spanned multiple courts, judges, and dramatic twists, reflecting deep tensions over separatism in the country’s southeast region.
On November 20, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on all seven counts of terrorism-related offenses and sentenced him to life imprisonment, marking a pivotal and contentious endpoint after ten years of proceedings.
Here’s a timeline of this decade long trial;
2015: Initial Arrest and First Charges
Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested on October 14, 2015, upon arriving from the United Kingdom at a Lagos hotel.
He faced charges of criminal conspiracy, intimidation, and belonging to an unlawful society for operating Radio Biafra and broadcasting pro-Biafran messages.
2017: Bail and Flight from Nigeria
In April 2017, after more than a year in detention, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court granted Kanu bail on health grounds with strict conditions, including no interviews or public rallies.
Following a deadly military raid on his Abia State home during “Operation Python Dance” in September 2017, Kanu jumped bail and fled to the United Kingdom via Israel, resuming incendiary broadcasts from exile.
June 2021: Dramatic Rearrest and Rendition
Nigerian authorities announced Kanu’s rearrest in Kenya and his extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria without formal extradition.
He was brought before Justice Nyako on amended seven-count charges of terrorism and treasonable felony.
The rendition sparked international outrage and allegations of abduction.
October 2022 – December 2023: Acquittal, Appeal and Supreme Court Reversal
In October 2022, the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted Kanu, ruling the rendition unlawful.
The federal government appealed, and in December 2023 the Supreme Court overturned the acquittal, declaring the rendition illegal but the charges valid, and ordered continuation of the trial.
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2024–2025: Judicial Changes and Delays
Trial progress stalled until September 2024 when Justice Nyako recused herself after Kanu accused her of bias.
The case was reassigned in March 2025 to Justice James Omotosho – the fourth judge to handle the matter.
April–June 2025: Prosecution Presents Its Case
Hearings finally accelerated. The prosecution called five DSS witnesses who testified behind screens, presenting broadcast transcripts, seized equipment, and evidence linking Kanu’s statements to violence in the southeast.
The government closed its case in June 2025.
July–November 2025: Defense Refusal and Case Closure
Kanu’s team filed a no-case submission, but he later sacked his lawyers and refused to mount a defense, insisting the charges were based on a repealed law and the court lacked jurisdiction.
After repeated refusals, Justice Omotosho closed the defense case on November 7, 2025, and fixed judgment for November 20.
November 20, 2025: Conviction and Life Imprisonment
On judgment day, Kanu interrupted proceedings and was removed from court for unruly conduct.
Delivering the ruling in his absence, Justice Omotosho found the prosecution evidence “uncontroverted”, convicted Kanu on all seven terrorism-related counts, and sentenced him to life imprisonment on four counts.
Aftermath and Likely Next Steps
The conviction has reignited tensions in Nigeria’s southeast, where IPOB retains strong support.
Nnamdi Kanu’s former lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor has vowed that they would head to the Court of Appeal, insisting that the judgement was a “perversion of justice”.