The Court of Appeal in Abuja has struck out a fundamental rights appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), declaring the case “academic” following his recent conviction and life sentence for terrorism.

The suit named the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents.

A three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that the appeal could no longer serve any practical purpose, as Kanu had already been convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 20, 2025. He is currently serving his sentence at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

In the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Ugo noted that Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed that his client was being held at Sokoto Prison, making the court unable to order his transfer to Kuje Prison, as had been requested.

“Kanu himself had previously indicated a preference to be remanded in a conventional prison rather than DSS custody,” Justice Ugo stated, noting that his current location already aligned with his expressed wishes.

The court therefore struck out the appeal for lacking merit, closing another legal avenue Kanu had pursued to challenge what he described as violations of his rights.

This ruling follows closely after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court convicted Kanu on a seven-count terrorism charge, with prosecutors proving their case beyond reasonable doubt. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

Earlier, Kanu had approached the Federal High Court seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights, alleging illegal arrest, extraordinary rendition, torture, and prolonged detention without proper access to legal counsel. However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo dismissed that suit on July 3, 2025, prompting the appeal now dismissed by the appellate court.