The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday sentenced the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment after ruling on the terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government. The judgment was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who found Kanu guilty on all seven counts after a long trial that drew national attention.
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The sentencing took place after the court reviewed the evidence presented by the prosecution, including several broadcasts linked to unrest, killings, and destruction of property in the South-East and during the #EndSARS protests. Justice Omotosho ruled that the acts tied to the defendant fell under terrorism as defined by law.
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On counts one, two, four, five, and six, the judge ordered life imprisonment, choosing not to apply the death penalty even though the offences carry that maximum punishment. On count three, the court imposed a 20-year jail term without an option of fine. Count seven attracted a five-year sentence, also without an option of fine. All sentences are to run without suspension.
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The ruling followed years of legal battles that kept Kanu in and out of detention and sparked strong reactions across different parts of the country. The court’s decision closes one phase of the case but is expected to trigger more public debate and reactions from political, social, and regional groups.
Kanu’s conviction earlier in the day set the stage for the sentencing. The judge noted that the offences established by the prosecution were serious under the terrorism law and that the broadcasts linked to violence and unrest showed intent to cause fear and disruption across several communities.
The judgment marks the highest outcome yet in the long-running confrontation between the Federal Government and the IPOB leader, whose activities have shaped security and political conversations in the South-East for almost a decade
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