South-East leaders rallied on Friday for a political solution to free Nnamdi Kanu following his life imprisonment on terrorism charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja. Justice James Omotosho handed down the verdict on Thursday after a seven-hour session marked by Kanu’s outbursts, which led to his removal from court. The sentence covers five counts of incitement and secession, with concurrent terms of 20 years on one charge and five years on another.
The court convicted Kanu on seven counts tied to broadcasts since 2015 that promoted Biafra independence and threatened violence against Nigeria. Evidence included videos where he called the country a “zoo,” vowed a “bloodbath,” and enforced sit-at-home orders that deserted streets, shut farms, and halted businesses. Omotosho rejected the death penalty but ordered Kanu’s isolation from devices and transfer to protective custody outside Kuje prison.
Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu urged calm among Igbo people and Nigerians. He revealed that political channels now stand open for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention. “All hope is not lost: Political solution is underway to secure Kanu’s release,” Kalu said.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo decried the ruling as a “black day” for Ndigbo and an assault on free speech. Its past vice president, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, accused the judge of following a script and demanded unconditional freedom. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s prior release order, ignored here, and compared Kanu’s treatment to leniency shown Boko Haram fighters.
Other groups echoed calls for mercy and dialogue.
– Council of South East Youth Leaders appealed to Tinubu as “father of the nation” to use his powers for compassion and unity.
– South East Revival Group branded the judgment a “judicial aberration” under a repealed law, urging the National Judicial Council to probe the judge.
– Igbo Community Association in Abuja rejected the verdict as unfair, noting no real defence chance and ignored deaths of Igbo youths by security forces.
Kanu’s legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, vowed an appeal to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. “Nnamdi Kanu is not going to stand convicted; it is going to get overturned,” he promised. Despite the shock, South-East cities like Owerri and Aba stayed calm, with markets and banks open.
This saga deepens old wounds in a region craving peace after years of unrest. Families torn by sit-at-home fears and lost lives deserve healing, not endless strife. Leaders’ push for dialogue offers a fragile thread of hope amid the heartbreak.
