The INC says Kanu’s life sentence proves the continuation of ethnic hostilities against Ndigbo.
The Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide has strongly condemned the life imprisonment handed down to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, describing the ruling by Justice James Omotosho as an extension of a long-standing ethnic and political conspiracy against the Igbo people in Nigeria. The organisation said the sentence was not only unmerited but also a troubling escalation of what it termed a coordinated ethnic war targeting the Igbo Race.
In a statement issued by its President, Chilos Godsent, the INC disclosed that it had taken time to carefully examine the circumstances surrounding the controversial judgment. After its assessment, the council concluded that the ruling was further evidence that systemic hostility against the Igbo has persisted despite repeated denials by government officials. According to the INC, the verdict represents a troubling signal that political interests still interfere with judicial outcomes in Nigeria.
Moreover, the INC argued that the speed and determination with which Justice Omotosho handled Kanu’s case stood in sharp contrast to the judicial treatment given to violent extremist groups. The statement challenged the judge to demonstrate the same level of legal fervor toward prosecuting Boko Haram and ISWAP militants who, the group said, continue to terrorize communities and claim countless innocent lives with impunity. This inconsistency, the council noted, further heightens Igbo concerns about unequal justice and selective prosecution.
INC Calls for Presidential Pardon
Consequently, the council appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently by granting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a Presidential Pardon. The INC maintained that such an action would help de-escalate growing tensions in the South-East, where the judgment has already ignited renewed anger and anxiety. According to the organisation, a pardon would not only calm the region but also serve as a powerful gesture toward national unity during a period marked by intense political polarization.
Additionally, the INC warned that failure to address the perceived injustice could worsen the sense of marginalization felt across the region. The group insisted that Kanu’s imprisonment is now symbolic, representing a broader struggle for fairness, equity, and justice within the Nigerian federation. A presidential intervention, it added, would therefore contribute to rebuilding trust between the federal government and the Igbo population.
The press statement, dated 21 November 2025, concluded with a renewed call for restraint among supporters while emphasizing the need for peaceful engagement as Nigeria navigates yet another politically sensitive chapter.