Nnamdi Kanu, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in November 2025, is currently being held at a correctional facility in Sokoto State. To

Agubuzu, who spoke at the National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit On Health in Abuja on Tuesday, attended by President Tinubu, said he was pained that Kanu was behind bars.

“But I must tell you, Mr. President, that personally, I don’t feel very happy because you were not here in the morning. There were several speeches, and we listened carefully.

“I listened to the opening address by His Imperial Majesty, and he was gingering all of us to work as a family, to work as a team, and to see Nigeria as one. This is good.

“But when you look at it, this same Imperial Majesty is arranging to confer a very high honour on Sunday Igboho, who, in my own part of Nigeria and the South-East, we see as a counterpart of Nnamdi Kanu.

“And, my brother, fellow royal father, the Imperial Majesty does not seem to understand the pain in my heart when Nnamdi Kanu is in Sokoto,” the monarch said to Tinubu’s amusement and applause from participants in the hall.

The traditional ruler also said that the IPOB leader could be sent back to Kenya or the United Kingdom if he (Kanu) is not wanted in Nigeria.

“So, sir, the ball stops in your court. Bring this man out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London, where they took him from,” he added.

Although Tinubu did not make any comment in reaction to the monarch’s plea, the President applauded him.

Kanu Vs FG

On November 20, 2025, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism.

The IPOB leader appealed the judgment at the Court of Appeal, challenging his conviction and multiple sentences, and insisting that his trial was riddled with fundamental legal errors and amounted to a miscarriage of justice.

In January, Justice Omotosho struck out an ex parte motion filed by the convicted leader, seeking his transfer from the Sokoto Correctional Centre.

He is currently being held at a correctional facility in Sokoto State after his application to be transferred to a different facility was denied.

Kanu’s case has generated discussions in the political space and also raised concerns in the South-East region.

In November 2025, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, where Kanu hails from, announced that steps were underway to secure the release of the convicted IPOB leader.

“The poor management of the IPOB issue in its early stages created the challenges we face today. We cannot allow it to fester and escalate into a larger, more dangerous crisis,” he noted with concern.

“I urge those seeking to play petty politics with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s plight to abandon that approach and instead work with us to secure his freedom,” Otti said.

“I am also happy to work with other well-meaning Nigerians who genuinely want this problem resolved, pushing for his release through the same diplomacy and dialogue with the federal government, which, though not responsible for creating the problem, has the courage and capacity to resolve it and take the credit,” he added.

Similarly, a former Abia governor, Senator Orji Kalu, called for a political solution to the issue.

Speaking while reacting to the recent conviction of Kanu by the Federal High Court, Abuja, on terrorism-related offences on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu said, “The problem of Nnamdi Kanu is what we need to solve [via a] political process.

“I have been working with the Federal Government of Nigeria on how to solve this issue, and nobody should question the decision of Justice Omotosho.”

(Channels TV, but headline rejigged )

Update news