“Why the Delay?”: IPOB Questions Stall in Kanu’s Appeal

The Indigenous People of Biafra has raised fresh concerns over the delay in hearing the appeal filed by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, challenging his conviction by the Federal High Court.

The group claims the Federal Government has failed to file its response within the prescribed period and that the Court of Appeal has refused to list the matter for hearing.

A Case Frozen in Time

ValidViewNetwork gathered that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has raised concerns over the delay in the hearing of the appeal filed by its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, challenging his conviction by the Federal High Court.

IPOB, in a statement on Thursday, September 10, 2026, by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it was concerned about the status of the appeal and the processes filed by the parties.

Unresolved Legal Questions

The statement, titled “Why Nigeria will never list the Appeal of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the bill of indictment against every court that made the fraud possible,” focused on what the group described as unresolved legal questions arising from Kanu’s trial and subsequent conviction.

According to IPOB, one of the issues concerns the applicable law under which Kanu was convicted, following the repeal of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 and the enactment of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The group argued that the transitional provisions of the 2022 Act were relevant to the continuation of proceedings that commenced under the earlier legislation.

It also referred to the Supreme Court judgment in State v. Egigia (2024) LPELR-62009(SC) , which it said addressed the legal effect of a repealed statute.

The FG’s Failure to File

IPOB further raised concerns about the processes filed by the Federal Government, claiming that it had not filed its brief within the prescribed period.

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It said the development had contributed to uncertainty over the next step in the appeal.

“Till date, the Nigerian government has filed nothing in the Court of Appeal,” the statement said.

According to IPOB, Kanu is representing himself in the appeal and has prepared a 115-page handwritten appellant’s brief containing eight issues for determination.

The group said the issues raised in the brief relate principally to the applicable law, the constitutional provisions governing criminal proceedings and the effect of the 2022 terrorism legislation on the case.

The 14-Day Ultimatum and Boycott Threat

The latest statement follows an earlier ultimatum issued by IPOB on September 1, 2026, giving the Federal Government 14 days to list and hear Kanu’s appeal.

The group warned that failure to comply would trigger its declaration of a total boycott of forthcoming elections across Biafraland and beyond.

IPOB also called on the international community to pay attention to the progress of the appeal and urged relevant Nigerian authorities to provide clarity on the status of the case.

A Lesson for Nigeria

The delay in hearing Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal raises troubling questions about the pace of justice in Nigeria.

When a case remains unresolved for months — or years, it erodes public confidence in the judicial system and fuels the very grievances that sustain movements like IPOB.

The rule of law demands not just fairness, but also timeliness.

For Nigeria, the lesson is clear: justice delayed is justice denied. The same system that demands respect for the rule of law must also demonstrate that it is capable of delivering justice promptly and impartially.

Regardless of one’s views on Kanu or IPOB, every Nigerian deserves a judicial process that is transparent, efficient and free from political interference.

Demand timely justice. Respect the rule of law. And never forget that a nation’s commitment to justice is measured not by its rhetoric but by its actions.