By Erewunmi Peace

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges.

Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment, held that the prosecution successfully established that Kanu’s actions — including repeated inflammatory broadcasts and “sit-at-home” directives — amounted to acts connected to terrorism and incitement.

Kanu was convicted on seven counts, including terrorism financing, inciting violence, and issuing instructions that allegedly resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property in the South-East. He also received additional sentences of 20 years and 5 years on separate counts, but all sentences will run concurrently.

The judge rejected the death penalty requested by the prosecution, citing international concerns over capital punishment. He however ordered that Kanu be held in a strict custodial facility, with no access to mobile phones or the internet, to prevent further incitement.

Kanu’s legal team has vowed to appeal the judgment, arguing that the charges were unconstitutional and that some of the laws used in the trial had been repealed. They maintain that the conviction is politically motivated.

The verdict has sparked mixed reactions across the country.
Some political leaders and socio-cultural groups, particularly in the South-East, described the sentence as “harsh” and “unjust,” while others hailed the judgment as a step toward restoring peace and order.

Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested in 2015, escaped bail in 2017, and was later re-arrested in 2021. His detention and trial have remained a major national issue, with IPOB insisting he is innocent and calling for his release.