Kanu, on November 20, 2025, was found guilty of all seven counts of terrorism charges preferred against him by the Federal Government and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Following his sentence, Kanu was taken to the Sokoto Correctional Facility, after the court expressed concern for his safety, noting that the Kuje Correctional Facility might not be suitable for him due to previous prison breaks recorded there.
Before judgment was delivered, Kanu disengaged his legal team and opted to defend himself
At Thursday’s proceedings, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, fixed the date for the hearing after declining to give audience to Kanu’s younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, who announced his appearance for the IPOB leader despite not being a lawyer.
When the case was called, Justice Omotosho asked for the appearance of a lawyer.
However, Emmanuel, who is not a lawyer, rose and announced his appearance.
Justice Omotosho told him that such an application could not be moved by him.
“This ex parte motion cannot be moved on the convict’s behalf because you are not a legal practitioner,” Justice Omotosho stated.
The judge, insisting that only a legal practitioner can move the motion, advised Emmanuel to either engage a lawyer or approach the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria for representation.
“When I said representation, it is not his (Kanu’s) father, brother, sister or relations I meant. I mean his counsel.
“I am not going to the merit of this application now in the interest of justice, but you cannot represent a human being when you are not a lawyer; you can only represent a corporate body.
Therefore, you cannot move the application because you are not a solicitor or advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“For you to be qualified as a lawyer, it will take you another six years or thereabout. So get a counsel to move the application,” the judge said.
When Emmanuel asked for the next adjourned date, Justice Omotosho said that although there were cases on the docket on Monday, Kanu would be accommodated.
“Thank you, sir,” Emmanuel responded.
The judge cautioned against misleading the public over how Kanu could compile his record of appeal.
Justice Omotosho said that, contrary to a remark by one of Kanu’s disengaged lawyers who was later engaged as a consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, the convict did not need to be in court for his record to be compiled.
“Let me advise generally so that you don’t delay the process. The issue of appeal, I must not pretend that I am not part of society. Mr Ejimakor granted an interview, talking about the deprivation of the defendant (Kanu) to compile his record. That is an erroneous opinion. The defendant may not be in court to compile a record.
“His attendance is not required, though the appearance of his representative may be required. The rights of a defendant are different from the rights of a convict,” Justice Omotosho noted.
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