Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial Timeline

Kanu rose from obscurity to public consciousness in 2009 through broadcasts on his London-based Radio Biafra, popular among South-East listeners. He was arrested and renditioned to Nigeria from Kenya on 19 June 2021.

On 17 October 2015, Kanu was reportedly arrested in Lagos by the DSS, though he later claimed the arrest occurred on 14 October.

He was arraigned on 23 November 2015.

Kanu was granted bail on 19 October 2016.

IPOB said that despite being granted bail, he was not released.

He was re-arraigned on 8 November 2016 before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Kanu was initially charged with six counts, later amended to an 11-count charge of terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society and publication of defamatory matter.

The trial of Kanu and three associates commenced on 10 January 2017 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The trial was heavily guarded and shielded from the public.

Kanu was granted bail on health grounds on 28 April 2017 and released after perfecting his bail conditions.

He spent 18 months in Kuje Prison.

The Nigerian government judicially proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation on 20 September 2017.

After Kanu was accused of jumping bail, Justice Nyako revoked his bail on 28 March 2019 and ordered his arrest.

A court hearing fixed for 26 November 2020 saw both Kanu and his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, absent.

Kanu was repatriated from Kenya in June 2021.

The Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia ordered the Federal Government to pay Kanu N500 million in damages for his illegal abduction and rights abuse in Kenya.

The Court ordered the Federal Government to return him to Kenya, from where he was extradited.

Justice E. N. Anyadike held that Kanu’s extradition from Kenya without due legal process was a flagrant abuse of his fundamental human rights.

On 20 November 2025, Justice James Omotosho sentenced Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment.