Breaking: Court sentences IPOB Leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has handed a life imprisonment sentence to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The verdict, delivered on Thursday, comes four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya under disputed circumstances and extradited to Nigeria to face a seven-count terrorism charge.

The judgment was delivered in Kanu’s absence after tensions erupted in the courtroom. Kanu had repeatedly insisted that the court lacked the authority to proceed with judgment, prompting Justice Omotosho to direct security operatives to remove him for what was described as “unruly behaviour.”

In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that Kanu’s broadcasts on Radio Biafra amounted to acts of terrorism. He said the broadcasts promoted violence and were aimed at instigating attacks on security personnel.

The court further ruled that the sit-at-home orders declared by Kanu across the South-East constituted terrorism, as they infringed on citizens’ freedom of movement and undermined public order. The judge stressed that Kanu had no constitutional authority to issue such directives.

Justice Omotosho stated that evidence presented during the trial showed that Kanu used his broadcasts to issue instructions leading to the killing of police and military officers, describing the actions as preparatory acts of terrorism.

Kanu was ultimately convicted on all seven counts, despite pleading not guilty to the charges.