The brother of detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has challenged the legal basis of his terrorism conviction, arguing that any conviction must be founded on a valid law that was in force at the time judgment was delivered.
The challenge comes amid ongoing legal proceedings following the Federal Government’s cross-appeal in Kanu’s case. According to statements attributed to his family and supporters, questions have been raised about the jurisdiction of the trial court and the legal framework under which the IPOB leader was convicted.
Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on terrorism-related charges in November 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The court found him guilty on multiple counts, including offences linked to terrorism and his activities as leader of the proscribed separatist group.
His brother maintains that for a conviction to stand, it must be anchored on a legally valid statute that was operational at the time of judgment. He argues that if the law relied upon by the court was not validly in force, the conviction could be subject to challenge on appeal.
The development follows IPOB’s claim that issues raised in the Federal Government’s cross-appeal have weakened the legal foundation of Kanu’s conviction and exposed potential jurisdictional flaws in the trial process. The group insists that jurisdiction is fundamental to every criminal proceeding and cannot be separated from any stage of a trial.
Meanwhile, Kanu has already filed an appeal seeking to overturn his conviction and sentences, arguing that the trial was marred by legal errors and amounted to a miscarriage of justice. The Court of Appeal is expected to consider the arguments raised by both parties in the coming proceedings.
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