Why is the FG Pushing for a Death Sentence for Nnamdi Kanu?

The call for a death sentence for Nnamdi Kanu has raised fresh debates across Nigeria, especially after a trending video pulled more attention to the case. 

On Thursday, November 20, the federal government made a clear move: it asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to hand the IPOB leader the maximum penalty after he was convicted on seven terrorism charges.

The government’s request came from its lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), who spoke immediately after the court found Kanu guilty of all the charges brought against him. Awomolo argued that since the court had confirmed Kanu’s guilt on counts 1 to 6, the next “appropriate punishment” under the law is the death penalty. 

In his words, this is the sentence the court is expected to enforce based on the severity of the offences.

According to the prosecution, Kanu’s actions and broadcasts did not only incite violence but also led to the killings of several security operatives. 

They also accused IPOB gunmen of destroying public infrastructure and attempting to destabilise the country. For the federal government, these outcomes go beyond political agitation, they are seen as acts that fall under the most serious category of crimes.

Reports from multiple media outlets, including The Nation and Channels Television, confirmed that the federal government stood firm on its position.

For the prosecution team, the case is no longer about agitation or activism, but about the consequences of actions they say endangered lives and national security.