Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment after a decade-long trial.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, four years after Kanu’s arrest in Kenya and subsequent extradition to Nigeria, Justice Omotosho found him guilty on all seven terrorism-related charges filed by the federal government.
The judgment was delivered in Kanu’s absence, following his refusal to attend the court proceedings. During the session, the presiding judge ordered security agents to remove him from the courtroom for what was described as “unruly behaviour.”
Justice Omotosho cited multiple broadcasts by Kanu via Radio Biafra as constituting acts of terrorism. The judge said his rhetoric and directives, including sit-at-home orders in South-Eastern states, violated citizens’ freedom of movement and amounted to terrorist acts.
The court also noted that Kanu had carried out preparatory acts of terrorism, including calls for the killing of police and military personnel.
The IPOB leader, who had pleaded not guilty, was convicted on all counts and found guilty of committing acts of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
