Nnamdi Kanu sentenced to life imprisonment, as legal team rejects judgement

By Sodiq Adelakun & Obasola Olatunde

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Thursday sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment for terrorism-related offences, concluding a trial that spanned ten years.

The judgment came four years after Kanu was controversially arrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria. He faced seven counts related to terrorism, all of which he pleaded not guilty to.

Delivering the ruling in Kanu’s absence—after the IPOB leader refused to attend—the judge described Kanu’s actions, including broadcasts on Radio Biafra, as preparatory acts of terrorism intended to incite violence and target police and military personnel.

“The sit-at-home directives issued in South-Eastern states constitute terrorism and violated citizens’ freedom of movement. Kanu lacked any constitutional authority to enforce such orders,” Justice Omotosho stated.

Security personnel had to remove Kanu from the courtroom due to his disruptive behaviour. 

The judge noted that throughout the trial, Kanu “remained arrogant, corky, and full of himself, without recognising the gravity of his crimes and their impact on the people of the South-East.”

While the prosecution had sought the death penalty, Justice Omotosho opted for life imprisonment, citing international trends against capital punishment. 

“In the interest of justice, the convict is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for counts one, four, five, and six,” the judge declared.

The court confirmed that Kanu is guilty on all seven charges, marking a decisive moment in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against terrorism.

Speaking to journalists after the court session, Kanu’s special counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, said the ruling marked a dark day in Nigeria’s judicial history.

“Today will forever be in Nigeria history. Today is the only day I have witnessed a man being convicted for just what he said from his mouth, not what he did with his own hands,” Ejimakor said.

Ejimakor argued that the evidence presented in court did not support the conviction handed down. 

“The verdict is not consistent with the evidence laid before the court. The sentence is overbroad, cruel and unusual,” he said.

“How can you convict a man for making a mere broadcast from a location that was never named, and you never tied that broadcast to any single incidents of violence, or even someone slapping someone, not to talk of terrorism?”

He insisted that Kanu’s advocacy for self-determination did not amount to a criminal act.

“To pursue a separate nation of yours is not a crime. In Nigeria today, if somebody says, ‘don’t be silly’, he will get convicted.

"Mazi Nnamdi Kanu made broadcasts, and so what? You convict him for terrorism for mere words in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What kind of presidence is being laid?”

Ejimakor said the team would immediately begin the appeal process.

“From here we are heading to the Court of Appeal. We are going to approach the justices there to check out what happened here today. We are very sure that justices there will agree that today was a symbol of travesty of justice that everybody has been suspecting all along."

“If the Court of Appeal disagrees with us, we will head to the Supreme Court, but by God Almighty, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not going to stand convicted. It is going to get overturned.”

However, shortly after the conviction, the Federal Government demanded that the court impose the death penalty, insisting that the offences for which Kanu was found guilty carry capital punishment under Nigerian law.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, told the court that the sentencing provisions left no room for judicial discretion. He argued that Kanu’s actions, broadcasts, and directives to IPOB members resulted in widespread bloodshed and destabilisation across the South East.

Awomolo further maintained that Kanu showed no remorse throughout the trial, describing his conduct as “militant, arrogant and unruly.” He also asked the court to order the forfeiture of all properties seized from the IPOB leader, and requested that Kanu be kept in prison custody where, according to him, “his security would be guaranteed until the judgment is executed.”