Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has disclosed that the Nigerian government will no longer pursue its cross appeal seeking the imposition of the mandatory death penalty on the detained separatist leader.
Ejimakor made this known on Thursday, saying he received formal communication about the government’s decision two days ago.
According to the communication, the government “does not intend to pursue their cross appeal on the question of the mandatory death penalty” against Kanu.
The message also noted that representations had been made concerning the mandatory imposition of the death penalty, arguing that it was contrary to international law.
Reacting to the development, Ejimakor described it as bringing the matter to a close.
“UPDATE: By virtue of a formal communication I received 2 days ago, I can confirm that the Nigerian government ‘does not intend to pursue their cross appeal on the question of the mandatory death penalty’ against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Case closed,” he wrote.
In November 2025, the prosecution had sought a mandatory death sentence for Kanu under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.
However, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja declined to impose the death penalty, citing the global trend away from capital punishment.
The court instead sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment.
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