Shehu Sani calls for dialogue after Nnamdi Kanu’s life sentence, urging calm and reflecting on his own prison experience

Former Kaduna Central lawmaker Shehu Sani has urged dialogue and calm following the life imprisonment sentence handed down to Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, on terrorism charges.

Also read: US Rep Flags Religious Persecution in Nnamdi Kanu Case

In a post shared on Friday, the former senator drew from his own historic imprisonment under the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime, arguing that a life term, though severe, does not necessarily signal the end of a man’s existence.

He described it instead as a difficult but survivable phase.

Sani, who served time in the Aba Correctional Centre between 1995 and 1998 after an earlier spell in Kiri Kiri and Port Harcourt prisons, recalled receiving humane treatment from most inmates and warders, despite run-ins with what he described as “a few tough guys.”

His reflection, he said, shaped his belief that constructive engagement remains possible even in tense political disputes.

He wrote that life imprisonment is “not the end” and insisted there is still space for a peaceful settlement in the national interest.

His comments come amid fresh public scrutiny of Kanu’s detention following reports that the IPOB leader has been moved to a correctional facility in Sokoto.

Kanu’s former lawyer and consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, raised concerns about the purported relocation, arguing that it distances Kanu from his family, legal team and support base.

Ejimakor suggested that President Bola Tinubu could still intervene to prevent what he described as an unhelpful escalation.

As of Friday evening, the reported transfer had not been independently verified.

Kanu was sentenced on Thursday by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being convicted on seven terrorism-related charges. Five of the counts attracted life sentences, with additional terms of 20 years and five years on the remaining charges, all without an option of fine.

Justice James Omotosho said security considerations made Kuje Correctional Centre unsuitable, recommending placement in a more secure facility. The ruling has been rejected by IPOB as politically driven and unlawful.

Also read: Nnamdi Kanu Convicted on Three Terrorism Charges

Sani’s remarks have added a notable voice to the growing calls for de-escalation, with his personal history giving weight to his appeal for a peaceful and negotiated path forward.