Nigeria government withdraws death penalty appeal against Nnamdi Kanu

The Nigerian government has withdrawn its cross-appeal seeking the mandatory death penalty against Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Alloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Kanu, confirmed the decision via social media, stating the administration ‘does not intend to pursue their cross appeal on the question of the mandatory death penalty’.

The legal move follows a previous ruling by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, who rejected a prosecution request for a death sentence under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act. Instead, the court sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment, citing international trends moving away from capital punishment.