Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being found guilty on multiple terrorism charges.
The judgement was delivered on Thursday, November 20, by Justice James Omotosho.
Kanu received life sentences for counts 1, 4, 5, and 6 of the seven-count charges, while he was sentenced to 20 years for count 3 and five years for count 7. The sentences will run concurrently.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution had proven all charges against Kanu beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the IPOB leader “deliberately refused” to challenge the evidence presented in court.
“He is a person who cannot be allowed to remain in the company of sane minds,” the judge said, describing Kanu as “an international terrorist.”
Omotosho rejected Kanu’s claim of being a freedom fighter, stating that his actions, carried out through “brutal force and terrorism,” had resulted in the “bloodshed of innocent citizens.”
Earlier, the Federal Government, through senior advocate Adegboyega Awomolo, had called for the death penalty.
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Awomolo told the court, “The punishment prescribed for the offences in counts one, two, four, five and six…is death. The only sentence Your Lordship can impose is death.”
Despite this, the judge exercised discretion to show mercy, citing both religious guidance and international condemnation of the death penalty.
“He has been convicted, and this court is only being merciful…The court is moved by chapter 23, verse 23 in the book of Matthew…Consequently, and in the interest of justice, I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for Counts 1, 4, 5, and 6,” Omotosho stated.
Justice Omotosho also highlighted concerns over Kanu’s conduct during the trial, noting that he had shown violent tendencies.
As a result, the court ruled that Kanu should not be held in Kuje Prison but placed in protective custody at a suitable facility elsewhere in Nigeria.
Additionally, the court prohibited Kanu from using any electronic devices, including mobile phones, except under supervision from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
All items recovered from Kanu, including a transmitter smuggled into the country, were ordered to be forfeited to the federal government.
The ruling brings a conclusion to a high-profile trial that has drawn intense national and international scrutiny, with the Federal Government seeking the maximum penalty for the IPOB leader while the court ultimately opted for life imprisonment.