Nnamdi Kanu was imprisoned because a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on seven counts related to terrorism and treason, sentencing him to life imprisonment in November 2025
Today The Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal filed by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, ruling that it lacked merit and had become academic after his conviction for terrorism by the Federal High Court on November 20. In its decision on Friday, the three-member panel held that Kanu’s allegations of violations of his rights— including dignity, access to quality healthcare, and freedom of religion — were no longer applicable following his conviction, life imprisonment sentence, and transfer out of DSS custody.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo said the case had become purely academic, especially since Kanu’s counsel, Maxwell Opara, confirmed at the start of the hearing that Kanu was now being held in Sokoto prison. As a result, the court could no longer grant his request to be moved to Kuje prison from DSS detention
Justice Ugo added that since Kanu had previously expressed a preference for being held in prison rather than in DSS custody, the court could no longer grant his request—he has already been convicted and moved to the very type of facility he sought. The ruling concerned Kanu’s appeal against the July 3 judgment of retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which dismissed his fundamental rights enforcement suit for lack of proof.
The respondents in the appeal were the Director-General of the DSS, the DSS itself, and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
