Legal Team Warns of Political Backlash Over Kanu’s Life Sentence

Aloy Ejimakor, the lead legal consultant to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has sounded a warning regarding the deepening resentment across Nigeria’s South-East following the life sentence handed to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Ejimakor cautioned that the palpable anger among the Igbo people is reached a tipping point and could fundamentally reshape the political landscape during the 2027 general elections if not addressed.

The legal practitioner’s comments followed his recent tour of several South-Eastern states during the festive season. In a series of statements shared on Sunday, January 18, 2026, Ejimakor observed that the conviction has created a profound sense of alienation and unhappiness among Ndigbo. He argued that the judicial outcome is increasingly being viewed as a political verdict rather than a purely legal one, fueling a narrative of systemic marginalization.

Ejimakor emphasized that the current mood in the region suggests that voters are likely to use their ballots to express their grievances. He warned that unless there is an urgent rectification—alluding to either a successful appeal or a political intervention—the 2027 elections could serve as a referendum on the government’s handling of the Kanu case. “Even Google confirms it,” he remarked, pointing to the high volume of digital discourse and public outcry surrounding the judgment.

The legal saga reached a dramatic climax on November 20, 2025, when Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment. The court found the Biafran agitator guilty on multiple counts of terrorism-related charges, specifically citing his role in inciting violence and his leadership of the proscribed IPOB. During the sentencing, the judge described Kanu as an “international terrorist” whose broadcasts had triggered widespread bloodshed and economic paralysis in the South-East.

Despite the prosecution’s request for the death penalty, Justice Omotosho opted for life imprisonment, citing the global trend toward abolishing capital punishment and a personal desire to “show mercy.” However, the ruling has done little to calm the volatility in the region. Kanu’s defense team has already initiated the appeal process, arguing that the trial was marred by the “extraordinary rendition” from Kenya and a lack of fair hearing.

The imprisonment of Kanu remains one of the most polarizing issues in Nigerian politics. While the government maintains that the conviction is a victory for the rule of law and national security, Ejimakor and other regional leaders argue that it only deepens the cracks in the nation’s unity. As 2027 approaches, the South-East’s political response to the “Kanu factor” remains a critical variable for any candidate seeking national consensus.