20/11/2025
UPDATE ON TODAY'S JUDGEMENT
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Today, the South East and other geopolitical zones were taken aback by the outcome of the trial of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was convicted on some of the charges preferred against him, particularly the terrorism related count and consequently sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court.
However, this development does not mark the end of the legal road. Under Nigerian law, every defendant convicted by any Court has the constitutional and statutory right of appeal. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu retains that right. His legal team is entitled to file a Notice of Appeal within 14 days from the date the judgment was delivered, pursuant to the Court of Appeal Rules and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ACJA. At the Court of Appeal, several post conviction remedies are available.
1. Application for Bail Pending Appeal.
Bail after conviction is rare but not impossible. Nigerian appellate courts consider factors such as the severity of the sentence, the length of time the appeal may take, the health of the appellant, and whether the appeal raises serious arguable grounds, again, this is discretionary.
Importantly, the right of appeal does not depend on whether the defendant opened his defence or called witnesses in the lower court. Nigerian appellate jurisprudence recognises that appeals may be sustained on legal grounds alone, especially where the conviction carries grave consequences such as the death penalty, lengthy imprisonment, or forfeiture, or where substantial questions of law, jurisdiction, or procedural fairness are raised.
Therefore, the legal struggle surrounding Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case is far from concluded. The appellate process may progress from the Court of Appeal all the way to the Supreme Court, whose decision will be final and binding. Until all appellate avenues are exhausted, the matter cannot be said to have attained legal finality.
For now, observers, supporters, and all concerned parties can only await the next steps as events continue to unfold in the higher courts and please and please, do not cast aspersions on the judiciary or members of the Bar, Lawyers should not be hated or blamed.
C. E Onwubuariri Esq
✍️ From Owerri Imo State
