Imprisonment of popular leaders brought govt problems – Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer to FG

Special counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor on Tuesday told the Nigerian government that imprisoning popular leaders would be of no benefit.

Ejimakor said such usually created problems for the government.

Posting on X, the constitutional lawyer cited the cases of freedom fighters like Obafemi Awolowo and Nelson Mandela.

In his post, Ejimakor called for the release of the IPOB leader.

He wrote: “On this #XTuesday for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, let the government be reminded that the imprisonment of a popular leader never did any good for the government.

“Instead, it brought more problems than it solved. Examples are the cases of Obafemi Awolowo and Nelson Mandela. #FreeNnamdiKanu.”

On November 20, 2025, an Abuja Federal High Court sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court found Kanu guilty on all seven counts related to terrorism, treason and the illegal importation of broadcasting equipment.

The judge sentenced the IPOB leader to life imprisonment on counts 1, 4, 5 and 6 instead of the death penalty.

He also sentenced Kanu to 20 years’ imprisonment on count 3 and five years on count 7, with all the sentences ordered to run concurrently.