Kanu’s Life Sentence Was Predictable — Justice in Nigeria Isn’t for the South East — Abaribe

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has reacted to the life sentence handed to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, saying the verdict was expected and reflected long-standing inequities in the country’s justice system.

Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment by a federal high court in Abuja on Thursday. Shortly after the ruling, Abaribe released a statement through his media adviser, Uchenna Awom, describing the judgment as the culmination of a predetermined plan.

He argued that the federal government’s unwillingness to consider amnesty for Kanu—while extending negotiations, peace deals and concessions to armed groups in the North East, North West, and ex-militants in the South South—showed a clear imbalance in the treatment of different regions. According to him, this disparity reinforces the belief that justice remains elusive for the South East.

Abaribe said the verdict did not come as a shock to his constituents, noting that leaders from the region had repeatedly appealed for a more conciliatory approach in the interest of national unity. He urged communities to remain patient and hopeful for a future where fairness guides national decisions.

He added that the Igbo nation must now look to President Bola Tinubu for a path forward and encouraged the public to stay calm, pray and avoid any actions that could worsen tensions.