The Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on all seven terrorism charges filed by the Federal Government.
Justice Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya under controversial circumstances and brought back to Nigeria. The charges against him centred on terrorism-related broadcasts and directives issued through Radio Biafra.
Thursday’s ruling was delivered in the IPOB leader’s absence. Kanu had insisted that judgment would not be delivered in the terrorism case against him. His objection led to a brief disruption in court, prompting the judge to order security operatives to remove him from the courtroom for “unruly behaviour.”
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In the judgment, Justice Omotosho held that several broadcasts attributed to Kanu amounted to acts of terrorism. The court said his rhetoric and intentions were anchored on violence, noting that his sit-at-home directive across the South-East violated citizens’ freedom of movement.
Omotosho ruled that Kanu lacked the constitutional authority to issue such an order. He further stated that evidence before the court showed the IPOB leader carried out preparatory terrorism through broadcasts in which he allegedly ordered attacks on police and military personnel.
The court therefore held that Kanu committed terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and convicted him on all seven counts, despite his plea of not guilty.
The judgment marks one of the most consequential decisions in Nigeria’s recent legal history, closing a prolonged chapter in Kanu’s detention, trial, and repeated legal challenges.