Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being found guilty on all seven amended charges, including acts of terrorism against Nigeria and its people. The trial, which began in 2015, experienced numerous delays and saw four different judges preside over the case before its conclusion.
Kanu was first arrested in Lagos in 2015 and arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Abuja. He was later rearraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja, where the proceedings stalled for about four years after he jumped bail and fled the country. In 2021, Kanu was rearrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria to continue his trial.
The federal government called five witnesses and presented documentary and video evidence to demonstrate that Kanu committed terrorist acts through his social‑media broadcasts. The videos showed Kanu issuing threats to Nigerians, including enforcing sit‑at‑home orders in the South‑east region. The court concluded that these actions constituted terrorism punishable under the Terrorism Prevention Act.
Justice James Omotosho, delivering the judgment, stated that the prosecution had established the elements of the charge. He found Kanu guilty on all seven counts: committing acts of terrorism, making broadcasts intended to intimidate the population, and belonging to a proscribed group. Kanu received life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five, and six; a 20‑year sentence on count three; and five years on count seven. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of a radio transmitter to the federal government. The judge emphasized that Kanu’s actions had harmed many, especially in the South‑east, and that the sentence was meant to deter others.
The conviction and sentencing have drawn criticism from some quarters. Former Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe described the judgment as a “preconceived plot” against the South‑east, urging calm and warning against violence in response to the ruling. The Nigerian Army also dismissed a fake “sit‑at‑home” order circulating online, labeling it the work of criminal elements seeking to create panic and destabilize the region. The army assured residents that the threat held no weight and would not be allowed to disrupt peace or restrict the freedoms of law‑abiding citizens.
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