Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is now facing the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death sentence, according to emerging legal assessments surrounding his ongoing trial with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Kanu, who has been in detention under charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement, is reportedly at a critical stage in his case as the prosecution pushes for maximum penalties under the Terrorism Prevention Act. Legal experts warn that if the court upholds the more serious counts, Kanu could receive a life sentence or, in the most extreme circumstance, capital punishment—penalties available for terrorism-related offenses involving loss of life or threats to national security.
The development has intensified political and public debates, with human rights groups urging the government to ensure due process, while Kanu’s supporters continue to call for his unconditional release.
The Federal Government is expected to make further submissions in the coming days, with heightened national attention on what could become one of the most consequential judgments in recent Nigerian history.