Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was on Thursday, November 20, 2025, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on seven alleged terrorism-related counts. This verdict has sparked widespread condemnation and significant developments, including Kanu’s immediate transfer to a correctional facility in Sokoto State.

The move to Sokoto State was swiftly confirmed on Friday by human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, who warned that the transfer poses severe risks to Kanu's safety, and by Kanu’s special counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor. The Department of State Services (DSS) also confirmed the relocation from its Abuja facility to the Nigerian Custodial Centre in Sokoto. Sowore accused the Nigerian government of implementing a covert plan to isolate Kanu in what he described as a notorious prison in northern Nigeria. Government officials, he reported, feared that keeping Kanu at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja would turn it into a “pilgrimage ground” for his supporters, thus necessitating his transfer to a far-away, isolated, and potentially vulnerable location, a concern echoed by Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, Kanu's wife, who also raised an alarm about the transfer, noting the incidences of insecurity reported in Sokoto.

Kanu’s legal team, including Barrister Ejimakor and Barrister Maxwell Okpara, vehemently condemned the judgment, labeling it a “travesty of justice” and a “dark day in Nigeria’s judicial history.” Ejimakor argued that the conviction was based on "mere words" rather than actions tied to violence, questioning the precedent being laid and stating that the evidence presented did not support the verdict. He maintained that advocating for self-determination does not constitute a criminal act. The legal team has vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal and, if necessary, the Supreme Court, expressing confidence that the conviction will be overturned.

Reactions from prominent figures and groups have been swift and critical. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and widow of late Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, condemned the verdict, acknowledging it as a new reality upon the Igbos but emphasizing it was not what the South-East anticipated. She called for restraint, advising Ndigbo and Nigerians to remain calm and avoid incendiary actions that could escalate tensions. Bianca urged for a collective engagement involving South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, clergy, political actors, and business leaders to dialogue with the Federal Government, stressing that peaceful coexistence founded on “justice, equity and dignity” is achievable through a political solution. She highlighted the historical struggle of her late husband, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a central figure in Nigeria’s political history and the leader of the Biafran secession, whose actions were driven by the perceived unsafe coexistence for Eastern Nigerians after widespread killings.

Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore further alleged that government-aligned actors are engaged in a psychological operation to manipulate public perception, creating an "illusion of renewed hope" while executing a darker agenda to keep Kanu in custody indefinitely. Sowore firmly stated that Kanu’s greatest enemies are often politicians from his own region who fear his influence and desire him silenced permanently. Similarly, human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi described the conviction as a “pyrrhic victory for the Nigerian state,” urging President Bola Tinubu to address the deep-rooted grievances in the South-East and to #FREEMNKNOW.

The Yoruba socio-political group, the Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM), on its 26th anniversary, firmly rejected Kanu’s life imprisonment, describing it as discriminatory and politically motivated. YOREM highlighted systemic injustices and a "double standard" in the state's treatment of groups, comparing the handling of IPOB to that of armed herdsmen. The movement urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider Kanu’s conviction and explore lawful and political options, including a state pardon, in the interest of justice, equity, and national reconciliation, while also reiterating its own call for Yoruba autonomy or the creation of an Oodua Republic if Nigeria's political structure continues to fail.

Adding to the controversy, the five governors of Nigeria’s South East region have maintained a striking and controversial silence following the judgment and transfer. This silence has drawn widespread criticism, with observers noting it reflects a pattern of political caution among regional leaders regarding IPOB matters. Critics argue this latest episode moves from caution to abdication, especially given the South East Governors’ Forum’s historical role in the 2017 proscription of IPOB, which served as a foundation for its designation as a terrorist organization. Despite civil society groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo condemning the ruling, the governors have not released statements or convened meetings, fueling narratives that they are detached from grassroots realities or unwilling to defend their people, although sources suggest they fear escalating tensions. Intelligence sources indicate increased security deployments across South-East states to deter potential unrest.