• Judge Convicts IPOB Leader on All Seven Terrorism Charges
• Prosecution Sought Death Penalty, Court Opts for Life Sentence
ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment, bringing an intense and politically charged trial to a dramatic conclusion.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the Federal Government had successfully proven its case on all seven terrorism-related charges, including incitement, managing a proscribed organisation, and issuing unlawful directives that allegedly led to violence and disruption across the South-East.
Judge Rejects Death Penalty Request
The Federal Government, through its legal team, had urged the court to impose the death penalty, arguing that several of the offences under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013 carry capital punishment. But Justice Omotosho instead opted for life imprisonment, noting that the sentence was sufficient given the nature of the offences.
“The prosecution has established each charge beyond reasonable doubt. The defendant is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge ruled.
He also ordered the forfeiture of broadcasting equipment allegedly used in disseminating messages linked to violence, and directed that Kanu be held in a secure correctional facility.
Courtroom Drama
The sentencing followed a tense courtroom atmosphere. Kanu, who had earlier dismissed his legal team and insisted on representing himself, was at one point removed from the courtroom for what the judge described as “unruly conduct.” Despite repeated invitations to enter a defence, he declined.
The court maintained that his actions—particularly the continuous “sit-at-home” directives in the South-East—amounted to unconstitutional restrictions that endangered lives and property.
Background: A Decade of Legal Battles
Nnamdi Kanu’s prosecution has spanned nearly a decade, beginning with his first arrest in 2015. After fleeing the country while on bail in 2017, he was rearrested in 2021 and returned to Nigeria under controversial circumstances.
IPOB, which he leads, was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 2017. The group’s push for the revival of the defunct Republic of Biafra has been at the centre of rising tensions and security challenges in the South-East.
Reactions and Next Steps
The ruling is expected to generate significant reactions across the country, particularly in the South-East where Kanu commands strong followership. His supporters have long insisted that his prosecution is politically motivated, while the government maintains that his activities threaten national security.
Kanu retains the right to appeal the judgment, and his associates have indicated they will challenge both the conviction and the sentence in higher courts.
Security agencies have been placed on alert nationwide as authorities anticipate possible protests following the announcement.
Implications
Kanu’s life sentence marks one of the most consequential judgments involving separatist agitation in Nigeria’s recent history. Analysts say the ruling will influence future discussions around self-determination, rule of law, and the balance between political expression and national security.