The recent life imprisonment sentence imposed on Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has drawn a sharp rebuke from former Senate President Adolphus Wabara.
Following the ruling delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, the 20th of November, 2025, Wabara swiftly commented on the severity of the judgment.
The former Senate President categorically “has condemned the life imprisonment handed down to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.”
Wabara reacted strongly to the outcome, dismissing the judgment as unjust. He encapsulated his distress by saying it was “not Kanu alone, but the entire Igbo race that they have imprisoned for life.”
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Wabara expressed profound shock at the stark contrast between Kanu’s sentence and a preceding case involving an acknowledged terror group. He highlighted that he “was shocked that while a Boko Haram leader was sentenced to just five years in prison 24 hours earlier, Kanu, a non-violent activist received a life sentence.”
He maintained that Kanu’s actions should not be equated with terrorism, describing him instead as “a freedom fighter advocating against injustice towards the Igbo people.” Wabara went on to assert a painful disparity in legal application, stressing: “The law they apply for the Igbos is not the same as for other Nigerians. The real terrorists are being rehabilitated and reintegrated, while peaceful IPOB members face harsh sentencing for legitimate demands.”
Despite his strong disapproval, Wabara conveyed an intention to pursue legal recourse. He stressed that the judgment would be appealed, expressing hope for a favourable outcome at the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.