By Tony Okafor, Awka
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday, comes four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya under contentious circumstances and brought back to Nigeria. He was subsequently charged with seven counts bordering on terrorism.
One of our editors, Tony Okafor, who monitored the judgment on Channels Television, reports that before passing sentence, the court noted that the gravity of Kanu’s offences ordinarily warranted the death penalty.
However, Justice Omotosho held that, in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ on love and mercy—and given that death sentences are no longer fashionable globally—the court opted to show leniency by imposing a life sentence instead.
The judgment was delivered in Kanu’s absence after he insisted that the court would not proceed with the terrorism case filed against him by the Federal Government. Following a heated exchange, the judge ordered security operatives to remove him from the courtroom for what was described as “unruly behaviour.”
Justice Omotosho stated that several broadcasts made by Kanu through Radio Biafra amounted to acts of terrorism, adding that his rhetoric and intentions were anchored on violence.
The court further held that Kanu’s sit-at-home directives in the South-East constituted terrorist activity, as they infringed on the freedom of movement of residents.
According to the judge, evidence before the court showed that Kanu engaged in preparatory acts of terrorism through broadcasts in which he allegedly ordered the killing of police and military personnel.
The court consequently found the IPOB leader guilty of committing acts of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria and convicted him on all seven counts, despite his plea of not guilty.
