Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment following his conviction on terrorism-related charges.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho found Kanu guilty on several counts, including issuing “sit-at-home” orders in the Southeast, leading a proscribed organisation, and inciting violence against security forces and civilians.
The judge described Kanu’s broadcasts as “barbaric, unconscionable, and aimed at causing anarchy,” and said that through his actions he “turned himself into a tyrant who could take life any time he pleased.”
Justice Omotosho further ruled that only the President of Nigeria has the constitutional authority to restrict movement, and that Kanu had no legal basis for ordering citizens to stay at home.
Prosecutors, led by Senior Advocate Adegboyega Awomolo, had pushed for the death penalty, arguing that some of the offences carry the harshest sanction under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act.
The court had earlier convicted Kanu after he refused to open his defense, prompting Justice Omotosho to foreclose further defence arguments and rely solely on the prosecution’s evidence.
Justice Omotosho’s sentence also highlighted the threat Kanu’s actions pose to public safety, stating that someone who freely incites violence and terror cannot be permitted to remain at large in society.
