Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to life imprisonment after his conviction on Thursday.
He was sentenced by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja following his conviction on all seven counts of terrorism filed against him by the Nigerian government.
Justice Omotosho, while delivering his judgment, described Kanu as an ‘international terrorist’ whose antics and rhetoric brought nothing but violence, destruction and deaths to the south east.
He said Kanu’s posturing as a freedom fighter and defender of the people belied his dangerous disposition and destructive tendencies, which did not advance any noble cause but jeopardised the lives of Nigerians, especially residents of the South-East, and constituted a threat to national security.
“The court finds that the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, is an international terrorist and must be treated accordingly,” Justice Omotosho declared.
The judge stressed that the prosecution was able to prove its case against Kanu with credible, irrefutable and sufficient evidence. He also stated that Kanu failed to enter a defence, choosing instead to rest his case on the prosecution’s evidence.
The presiding judge also ordered security agents to throw Kanu out of the courtroom for ‘unruly behaviour’ after a commotion ensued while the judgment was being delivered.
Omotosho stated that several broadcasts by Kanu, through Radio Biafra, constituted acts of terrorism, adding that his rhetoric and intention were calls for violence and anarchy
The judge also asserted that Kanu’s sit-at-home order in South-Eastern states amounted to terrorism, stressing that the order violated South-Easterners’ freedom of movement, adding that the IPOB leader lacked the constitutional power to order people to sit at home.
According to Justice Omotosho, from the evidence before the court, Kanu carried out preparatory terrorism via his broadcasts through which he ordered the killing of police officers and military officers.
Discussion about this post