In a landmark ruling on Thursday, a Nigerian Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment after convicting him on all seven terrorism-related charges.
Presiding Judge James Omotosho found that Kanu’s broadcasts on Radio Biafra, his repeated “sit-at-home” orders in southeastern Nigeria, and his alleged incitement of violence constituted acts of terrorism. The court held that Kanu, by enforcing these orders, had no constitutional power to restrict the freedom of movement of citizens — a violation deemed terrorist in nature.
During sentencing, the federal government’s lead counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, had urged the court to impose the death penalty, arguing the severity of Kanu’s actions warranted the maximum punishment under the Terrorism Prevention Act.
However, Justice Omotosho declined, citing “the global disapproval of capital punishment” and emphasising a need to “temper justice with mercy.”
Kanu, who has persistently refused to recognise the court’s jurisdiction, was absent for the sentencing. Previously, the court had foreclosed his defence after he failed to call any witnesses during the six-day window allotted for his case.
The conviction marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with separatist tensions in the southeast, particularly among IPOB supporters, who have long campaigned for the revival of Biafra.
