In a landmark ruling that has ignited fierce debate across Nigeria, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on all seven counts of terrorism-related charges today.
Justice James Omotosho sentenced the 58-year-old activist to life imprisonment, rejecting prosecutors’ calls for the death penalty in favor of what he termed “tempered justice with mercy.”
The verdict caps a turbulent 10-year legal saga that began with Kanu’s initial arrest in 2015, his brief 2017 bail, subsequent flight to Israel, and dramatic 2021 rearrest in Kenya, where he was allegedly renditioned back to Nigeria.
Security was intense around the court amid fears of unrest in the southeast, where IPOB’s separatist agitation for a sovereign Biafra has fueled deadly clashes.
The Charges: From Incitement to “Sit-at-Home” Orders
Kanu, a dual Nigerian-British citizen, faced charges under the Terrorism (Prevention) Amendment Act, including managing an unlawful society, inciting violence, and acts of terrorism. Prosecutors alleged Kanu’s broadcasts via Radio Biafra ordered attacks on security forces, enforced “sit-at-home” lockdowns in the southeast, and intimidated civilians, leading to economic losses and hundreds of deaths.
Key counts included:
- Professing membership in IPOB, declared a terrorist group.
- Broadcasting threats of violence and standstill orders.
- Managing a proscribed organization.
Kanu boycotted much of the trial, refusing to enter a defense and challenging the court’s jurisdiction, calling the process “premeditated.” Justice Omotosho dismissed these claims, stating the prosecution’s five witnesses proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. “Kanu showed no remorse, remaining arrogant throughout,” the judge noted, but opted for life terms on four counts over execution.
Reactions: Jubilation, Outrage, and Fears of Escalation
Federal Government lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo hailed the outcome as a victory for the rule of law: “I congratulate Nigeria – no one is above the law.” The Information Minister echoed this, vowing continued action against IPOB’s “claws.”
But southeast leaders erupted in fury. IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful branded it a “death sentence on Biafra’s freedom struggle,” warning of “total shutdowns.” Activist Omoyele Sowore decried the “premeditated judgment,” while former NBA chief Efobi called it “not surprising” but “irresponsible.”
Analysts fear reprisals. SBM Intelligence estimates IPOB-linked violence has killed 700 and cost $5.3 billion since 2021. The southeast, already scarred by enforcement of sit-at-home orders, braces for more unrest.
Kanu’s Long Fight: From Bail to Rendition
Kanu’s journey to the dock was as dramatic as his rhetoric. Charged in 2015 for inciting secession, he jumped bail in 2017, resurfacing in the UK before his 2021 Kenyan arrest. Brought back in a controversial operation, he spent years in solitary, alleging torture and demanding transfer to Kuje Prison.
His lawyers argued the Terrorism Act was repealed and rendition violated international law, but the Supreme Court upheld the trial in 2023. Today’s conviction ends that chapter – but not the Biafra question.
As Kanu is led away, Nigeria grapples with a verdict that silences one voice but amplifies old divides. Will it bring peace to the southeast, or fuel the fire it sought to extinguish?
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