Special Counsel to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Alloy Ejimakor, has revealed that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has withdrawn its cross-appeal seeking the mandatory imposition of the death penalty on the pro-Biafra activist.
Ejimakor disclosed this in a social media post, stating that he had received formal communication from the government confirming that it would no longer pursue the appeal.
According to the lawyer, the government had informed the relevant parties of its decision to withdraw the cross-appeal concerning the mandatory death penalty. He added that representations had previously been made regarding the compulsory imposition of capital punishment and its alleged violation of international law.
Ejimakor stated: “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.”
The development comes after the prosecution, in November 2025, sought a death sentence for Kanu under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.
However, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja rejected the request and instead sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment.
In arriving at his decision, the judge referenced international developments and the growing global shift away from capital punishment.
