By Peace Erewunmi

The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withdrawn its cross-appeal seeking the death penalty against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Kanu’s Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed the development after receiving formal communication from the Federal Government confirming that it would no longer pursue the aspect of its appeal seeking the mandatory imposition of the death penalty.

According to Ejimakor, the government’s decision followed representations concerning the legality of mandatory capital punishment and its alleged conflict with international law.

In a statement shared on social media, the lawyer said the government had informed the relevant parties that it did not intend to continue with its cross-appeal on the death penalty.

The development comes months after the Federal Government challenged the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose a life sentence on Kanu rather than capital punishment.

Justice James Omotosho had convicted Kanu on seven terrorism-related charges on November 20, 2025. Although the prosecution had sought the death penalty, the judge instead imposed life imprisonment, with the sentences running concurrently.

In reaching his decision on the sentence, Justice Omotosho cited the need to temper justice with mercy as well as international developments and the growing opposition to capital punishment.

The Federal Government subsequently filed a cross-appeal challenging the sentence and seeking the death penalty.

With the latest decision, however, the government will no longer pursue the death-penalty aspect of its cross-appeal, according to Kanu’s lawyer.

The withdrawal does not mean that Kanu has been released or that his conviction has been overturned. His legal team is still challenging his conviction and life sentence at the Court of Appeal, while he remains in custody at the Sokoto Custodial Centre.

The latest development therefore removes the immediate possibility of the Federal Government pursuing a death sentence against the IPOB leader through its cross-appeal, while the broader legal battle over his conviction and sentence continues.