The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to facilitate the hearing of an appeal challenging the conviction and sentence of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The group warned that failure to have the appeal heard within the stipulated period could trigger a review of its position on the 2027 general elections, including a possible boycott across the South-East and other parts of what it described as “Biafra land.”

IPOB’s Head of Directorate of State, Chris Nwangu, made the position known in a video message, alleging that the Federal Government had failed to file its respondents’ brief or take steps to ensure that the appeal was listed for hearing.

Nwangu accused the government of rushing to secure Kanu’s conviction but allegedly becoming reluctant to defend it before the appellate court.

“A country that rushed to convict is now too frightened to defend the conviction,” he said.

He added, “We are giving them 14 days to hear Onye Ndu’s appeal. If they refuse, IPOB will review its petitions and will consider boycotting the coming elections across Biafra land and beyond.

“A government that will not face its own Court of Appeal has no right to demand our votes.”

Kanu is currently serving a prison sentence in Sokoto following his conviction on terrorism-related charges.

In November 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on several counts of a seven-count terrorism charge.

The court imposed life imprisonment on counts one, four, five and six, while Kanu received a 20-year sentence on count three and five years on count seven.

Kanu subsequently challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking to overturn both his conviction and the sentences imposed on him.

Among the grounds cited in the appeal was the claim that the trial court imposed the life sentence without first allowing him to make an allocutus — a statement by a convicted person pleading for leniency before sentencing.

In its appeal, the defence asked the appellate court to quash the conviction on all counts in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 and set aside the sentences imposed by the Federal High Court.

It also urged the Court of Appeal to discharge and acquit Kanu on all the counts contained in the charge.

“An Order of the Honourable Court of Appeal quashing, reversing and setting aside the sentences/punishment imposed on the Appellant by the Honourable trial Federal High Court Judge in the charge no. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015.

“An Order of the Honourable Court of Appeal discharging and acquitting the Appellant in respect of all the counts in charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015,” part of the relief sought reads.