Lawyer Urges Nigerian Government to Pursue Political Solution for Nnamdi Kanu Case

Boston-based Nigerian lawyer Bennett Amadi has urged the Nigerian government to consider a political resolution in the case of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. He made the call during a special episode of 90MinutesAfrica, discussing the Federal High Court judgment that sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on terrorism charges.

Amadi argued that Kanu’s case should not be treated like an ordinary criminal matter. He described it as a political case that requires a political solution and said the government still has an opportunity to pursue such a settlement for the nation’s benefit. “He is a very intelligent man who can contribute to making the country better. That opportunity should not be lost,” he stated.

Commenting on the court’s ruling, Amadi suggested that Justice James Omotosho may have been under external pressure when delivering the sentence. He noted that Nigerian judges often fear losing their jobs and, because they cannot return to legal practice after retirement, they may succumb to outside influences. Amadi proposed that allowing judges to resume practice after their tenure would encourage more independence and adherence to the law.

Amadi also questioned the legal basis for trying Kanu under a law that had been repealed by the National Assembly. He argued that the government’s claim that a 2022 Act replaced the repealed law is invalid, explaining that charges should have been amended to reflect the new legislation. “If the charges were not amended, they were dead,” he said.

Finally, Amadi refuted claims that Kanu jumped bail. He explained that Kanu fled to protect his life after a military raid on his home, which resulted in multiple deaths. At the time, Kanu filed an affidavit requesting the court to guarantee his safety so he could face the charges, but he remained in hiding because no assurance of his safety was provided.