Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu to Life Imprisonment
A 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 Count 1, Count 4 and Count 6 of the terrorism charges brought against him.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho, who ruled that the offences proved by the Federal Government met the threshold for the maximum punishment under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act.
The ruling comes after months of hearings during which Kanu repeatedly refused to mount a defence, even after the court granted him six days to present his case.
Following his absence, the court closed his defence and proceeded with judgment.
According to the charges, Count 1 involved terrorism-related broadcasts said to be capable of causing fear and disrupting public order.
Count 4 bordered on incitement, including instructions that allegedly encouraged attacks on security agencies and public infrastructure.
Count 6 dealt with the unlawful importation of a radio transmitter, which the prosecution said was smuggled into the country to aid the spread of separatist messages.
In its final argument, the prosecution urged the court to impose the death penalty, insisting that Kanu’s actions led to violence, economic shutdowns and loss of lives in parts of the South-East.
The government also asked the court to mandate the forfeiture of all broadcast equipment used by the IPOB leader and to restrict his access to communication devices.
The court, however, opted for life imprisonment, describing the proven charges as grave but stopping short of authorising capital punishment.
