Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, said Wednesday that his client’s appeal against his terrorism conviction is progressing through established legal procedures.
In a statement, Ejimakor said Kanu’s notice of appeal, filed in February 2026, has initiated a process that will move through several stages before a final decision is reached by the Court of Appeal.
He said the first stage — the compilation and transmission of the record of appeal by the Federal High Court in Abuja — has been completed. The record includes all court documents, proceedings, exhibits, rulings and the judgment.
Ejimakor said the next stage involves the filing of written briefs. Kanu’s legal team is required to submit its appellant’s brief within 45 days of receiving the record, outlining arguments across 22 grounds of appeal and seeking to overturn the conviction.
The federal government, as respondent, will then file its brief within 30 days, after which Kanu’s lawyers may submit a reply within 14 days if necessary.
He noted that the briefs are the primary materials the Court of Appeal will consider, while oral arguments at the hearing will serve to clarify written submissions.
Once filings are complete, the court will schedule a hearing before a three-member panel of justices. Ejimakor said no new evidence or witness testimony will be allowed at this stage.
After the hearing, the court is expected to deliver judgment within 90 days. The court may uphold the conviction, overturn it and discharge Kanu, or order a retrial.
Ejimakor said the process typically takes several months but may be expedited due to the nature of the case. He urged the public to focus on the procedural stages rather than speculation about the appeal.
“The appeal is progressing exactly as the rules require — one step at a time,” he said.
