The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, convicting Kanu on all seven counts, including incitement, operating a terrorist organisation, and broadcasting messages that allegedly fueled violent activities in the South-East. Although some of the charges carry the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment, noting global opposition to capital punishment and the need to “temper justice with mercy.”
The court also imposed additional sentences of 20 years and 5 years on two separate counts, but ruled that all punishments will run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho held that Kanu’s repeated sit-at-home directives and public broadcasts contributed to widespread disruption, fear, and attacks attributed to extremist elements in the region. The judge further ordered that Kanu be confined in a high-security facility and barred from access to digital devices, including phones and internet-enabled equipment.
Kanu, who declined to enter a defense, maintained through his legal team that he was being tried under a repealed law, a stance the court dismissed before proceeding to deliver judgment.
The ruling marks a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most contentious and politically sensitive trials in recent years, with analysts warning that the verdict may heighten tensions in the South-East and spark renewed debates on national unity and justice.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, convicting Kanu on all seven counts, including incitement, operating a terrorist organisation, and broadcasting messages that allegedly fueled violent activities in the South-East. Although some of the charges carry the death penalty, the court opted for life imprisonment, noting global opposition to capital punishment and the need to “temper justice with mercy.”
The court also imposed additional sentences of 20 years and 5 years on two separate counts, but ruled that all punishments will run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho held that Kanu’s repeated sit-at-home directives and public broadcasts contributed to widespread disruption, fear, and attacks attributed to extremist elements in the region. The judge further ordered that Kanu be confined in a high-security facility and barred from access to digital devices, including phones and internet-enabled equipment.
Kanu, who declined to enter a defense, maintained through his legal team that he was being tried under a repealed law, a stance the court dismissed before proceeding to deliver judgment.
The ruling marks a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most contentious and politically sensitive trials in recent years, with analysts warning that the verdict may heighten tensions in the South-East and spark renewed debates on national unity and justice.
