The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over alleged violations of his fundamental rights while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). The ruling, reported by The Guardian on Friday, comes after Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism by a Federal High Court on November 20, 2025.
Kanu had claimed that his rights to human dignity, access to quality healthcare, and freedom of religion were breached during his detention. However, the appellate court ruled that these claims were no longer actionable following his conviction and ongoing imprisonment. Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo noted that Kanu’s lawyer confirmed his client was being held at Sokoto Prison, making the court unable to grant a transfer to Kuje Prison, and that Kanu had previously expressed preference for his current custody.
The appeal challenged a July 3 ruling by the now-retired Federal High Court judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which had dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights enforcement suit due to lack of substantiation. Respondents in the appeal included the DSS Director-General, the Department of State Services, and the Attorney-General of the Federation. With the dismissal, Kanu’s legal challenge regarding the conditions of his detention has effectively ended.
Kanu’s conviction stemmed from multiple terrorism-related charges, including issuing repeated sit-at-home orders, threats of violence to followers, and affiliation with the proscribed Eastern Security Network (ESN), an IPOB affiliate. Evidence at trial showed his broadcasts contributed to attacks that led to the deaths of security personnel and destruction of public facilities, including police stations.
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