Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday, comes four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya under controversial circumstances and returned to Nigeria to face trial. He was subsequently arraigned on seven terrorism-related counts.
The ruling was delivered in Kanu’s absence after he insisted that judgment would not proceed, prompting a brief commotion in the courtroom. Justice Omotosho ordered security operatives to remove him for what was described as unruly behaviour.
In the verdict, the judge held that several of Kanu’s broadcasts on Radio Biafra amounted to acts of terrorism, noting that his rhetoric was rooted in violence. He further ruled that IPOB’s sit-at-home orders in the South-East constituted terrorism, as they grossly infringed on citizens’ freedom of movement.
Justice Omotosho maintained that Kanu had no constitutional authority to compel residents to stay indoors. He added that evidence before the court showed that Kanu used his broadcasts to direct attacks, including the killing of police and military personnel.
The court consequently found him guilty of committing acts of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Despite pleading not guilty, Kanu was convicted on all seven counts.
