Nnamdi Kanu’s Lawyer Ejimakor Accuses Nigerian Government Of Delaying IPOB Leader’s Case, Presses Appeal Court For Bail | Sahara Reporters

He argued that the government’s failure to join issues in the appeal should not continue to hold up consideration of Kanu’s request for bail.

Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Special Counsel to the imprisoned leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Nigerian government of deliberately delaying the IPOB leader’s case by failing to file its reply brief, urging the Court of Appeal to set a near date to hear Kanu’s pending bail application.

Ejimakor made the accusation and demand on Tuesday while calling on the appellate court to consider Kanu’s pending bail application despite the Nigerian government’s failure to file its reply brief.

“On this #XTuesday for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, I respectfully request the Court of Appeal to set a near date to consider his bail application,” Ejimakor said.

He argued that the government’s failure to join issues in the appeal should not continue to hold up consideration of Kanu’s request for bail.

“Given the failure of the Nigerian government to join issues in the appeal, the next fair thing to do is to promptly consider Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for bail,” he said.

According to the lawyer, the Nigerian government has yet to file its reply brief to the appellant’s brief of argument, despite the deadline having elapsed.

“The Nigerian government has not yet filed its reply Brief to MNK’s Brief of argument. So, their Brief is overdue,” Ejimakor said.

He added that it would be unfair for the Court of Appeal to continue waiting for the government while Kanu’s bail application remains pending before the court.

“So, it’s unfair to continue waiting for them without considering Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s bail application, which is pending before the Court of Appeal,” he said.

Kanu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2025 after being found guilty of terrorism-related offences. He subsequently appealed the judgment.

The appeal followed a lengthy legal battle involving Kanu, who was first arrested in 2015 and later returned to Nigeria in 2021 after his controversial rendition from Kenya.
The Court of Appeal had previously discharged and acquitted him in 2022, but the Supreme Court subsequently overturned that decision and ordered the continuation of his trial.

Ejimakor’s latest demand places renewed pressure on the appellate court to address Kanu’s request for bail while the substantive appeal against his conviction proceeds.

The lawyer had previously said Kanu’s appeal was progressing through the required legal stages, including the exchange of briefs between his legal team and the Nigerian government.