Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), faces the loss of his British citizenship after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on all seven terrorism charges brought by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution presented sufficient credible evidence to sustain the conviction, noting that Kanu holds a British passport.
Under UK law, the Home Secretary can revoke a person’s British citizenship if it is deemed “conducive to the public good” – a power commonly exercised in national‑security or counter‑terrorism contexts.
The authority stems from Section 40 of the British Nationality Act 1981. For naturalised citizens, deprivation is allowed even if it renders them stateless; however, those born British with no other nationality cannot be stripped of citizenship.
Kanu is expected to receive a written notice from the Home Secretary, though the notice may be withheld for national‑security reasons. He retains a right of appeal to the First‑tier Tribunal or, in terrorism cases, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), where sensitive evidence can be kept confidential and a ‘special advocate’ may be appointed.
Consequently, Justice Omotosho’s judgment opens the door for the UK to withdraw Kanu’s citizenship or his passport, which would restrict his overseas travel while possibly leaving his British citizenship intact.
