In a dramatic and widely criticized ruling, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment, sparking outrage across the South-East and beyond.
Reacting to the judgment, Cubana Chief Priest, a prominent social commentator, Musician and entrepreneur, condemned the sentence as a deliberate act of injustice against the South-East.
“It’s clear the government doesn’t want us to have peace in the South-East,” he said.
“This judgment is a pit dug for the entire South-East to completely sink in. I’m scared, I’m worried, I’m unhappy. Mr. President, you must do something about this. This is injustice to the South-East. Wetin Igbo do una for this country?”
Justice Omotosho delivered the ruling on Thursday, four years after Kanu was controversially arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria. Kanu, who faced seven terrorism-related counts, was absent from the courtroom during sentencing, insisting through his legal team that the court lacked jurisdiction to try him on terrorism charges.
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu’s lead lawyer, described the verdict as a travesty of justice, insisting that the IPOB leader was convicted for “mere words” rather than actions.
“This is the only day I have witnessed a man being convicted for mere puffery — for what he said with his mouth, not what he did with his hands,” Ejimakor said. “The verdict is not consistent with the evidence laid before the court. The sentence is overbroad, cruel, and unusual. By God Almighty, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will not remain convicted. This judgment will be overturned.”
Ejimakor further accused the ruling of being politically and ethnically motivated.
“The judgment is not based on law or facts. It is based on politics and tribal, primordial sentiments — simply because Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is Igbo. Today, we saw an Igbo man being trampled upon, and by God Almighty, we are not going to allow it,” he declared.
Adding to the chorus of condemnation, the Methodist Archbishop of Okigwe Archdiocese, Most Rev. Livinus Biereonwu Onuagha, described the sentence as a grave misjudgment and a reflection of systemic flaws in Nigeria’s legal and governance systems.
“When people who have taken up arms are being reintegrated into society, while someone who has not been linked to violence is given life imprisonment, many citizens begin to question the fairness of the system,” Archbishop Onuagha said. He also urged political leaders in the South-East to engage sincerely with the grievances of their people.
“Igbo politicians should recognise the realities on the ground and respond to the concerns of the region,” he said, stressing the importance of dialogue, justice, and equitable treatment for all citizens.
The life sentence has intensified calls for legal review, national dialogue, and greater attention to the concerns of the South-East. Kanu’s defense team is expected to appeal the ruling to the Court of Appeal, and if necessary, escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
0 Comments