Nigerian Govt not pursuing death penalty appeal against Nnamdi Kanu – Aloy Ejimakor

Aloy Ejimakor, the Special Counsel to leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday disclosed that the Nigerian government will not be pursuing its cross appeal on death penalty against the agitator.

Ejimakor revealed that the decision was contained in a mail he received two days ago.

The mail posted by Ejimakor on X reads partly: “We have received notice that the Government does not intend to pursue their cross appeal on the question of the mandatory death penalty.

“We understand that the E C made representations on the mandatory imposition of the death penalty being in breach of international law.”

Reacting, the Special Counsel to the IPOB leader described the situation as case closed.

He wrote: “UPDATE: By virtue of a formal communication I received 2 days ago (see screenshot), I can confirm that the Nigerian government “does not intend to pursue their cross appeal on the question of the mandatory death penalty” against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Case closed.”

In November 2025, the prosecution demanded a mandatory death penalty for Kanu under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.

But Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court avoided the death sentence, citing international trends moving away from capital punishment.

Instead, the judge handed Kanu a life sentence.