Diaspora Group Urges Tinubu to Grant Presidential Pardon to Nnamdi Kanu After Life Sentence

A coalition of Nigerians in Germany has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exercise mercy and grant a presidential pardon to the detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, warning that his recent life sentence could inflame tensions across the country.

The appeal, issued in a communiqué jointly signed by Benjamin Chinaka, National Coordinator, and Chinasa Ezeji, Secretary-General, followed an emergency meeting held on 21 November in Frankfurt. Members of the organisation expressed deep worry over reports that Kanu had been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

They cautioned that the ruling risks worsening Nigeria’s already fraught political climate.
“Nigeria is grappling with serious security and socio-political challenges,” the group said. “At such a delicate time, this judgment may further widen divisions among ethnic groups and undermine democratic cohesion.”

The diaspora body urged President Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers and pardon Kanu, describing the move as vital for peace and stability.
“We respectfully appeal to His Excellency… to exercise his prerogative of mercy and grant a presidential pardon to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the communiqué stated.

According to the group, many of the issues raised by Kanu echo long-standing frustrations felt by ordinary people in the South-East — including economic exclusion, political marginalisation, and persistent insecurity. They argued that a gesture of clemency from the presidency could help rebuild trust and reset relations between the region and Abuja.

Their call comes amid growing national and international pressure for a political rather than purely judicial resolution to separatist grievances in the South-East.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court had convicted Kanu on terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He has since been transferred to the Sokoto Correctional Facility.

The diaspora group said pardoning Kanu could mark a turning point for unity, urging Tinubu to take what they described as a “magnanimous decision in the interest of national peace.”