The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment. Justice James Omotosho handed down the sentence on five of the seven counts of terrorism-related offences, choosing life imprisonment over the death penalty.
Kanu was convicted on all seven counts, which include secessionist agitations, acts of terrorism, membership of a proscribed group, killing of security operatives, destruction of public property, concealment, and the importation of an unregistered radio transmitter.
Specifically, Kanu received:
Life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five, and six.
20 years in prison on count three (membership of a proscribed terrorist group), with no option of fine.
Five years in prison on count seven (importation of an unregistered radio transmitter for Radio Biafra), with no option of fine.
Justice Omotosho highlighted that Kanu’s broadcasts, including threats that “the Army of Nigeria will die” and that “everything called Nigeria will perish,” were acts of terrorism aimed at promoting the breakaway of the South-East, South-South, and parts of the Middle Belt to form a Biafra nation.
The court noted that Kanu enforced sit-at-home orders in the South-East, threatening individuals who attempted to open their businesses, disrupting farming activities, and restricting religious observances. The judge described these orders as unconstitutional and of wide-reaching impact.
“The defendant’s repeated broadcasts referring to Nigeria as a ‘zoo’ and promoting secession constitute acts of terrorism under Nigerian law,” Justice Omotosho said.
