November 20, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on multiple counts of terrorism, sealing a trial that has spanned several years and drawn both national and international interest.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho found Kanu guilty on all seven counts brought against him by the Federal Government through the Department of State Services.
The court ruled that the prosecution proved that Kanu’s statements, broadcasts, threats, and directives amounted to acts of terrorism under Nigerian law.
Justice Omotosho first held Kanu liable on counts one to three, which centred on issuing incendiary public broadcasts.
The court found that his threats of killings, violence, and enforcement of the illegal “sit-at-home” orders amounted to terrorist acts, given their crippling effect on social and economic activities in parts of the South-East.
According to the judge, the repeated threats and coercive enforcement of the sit-at-home directive had “clear consequences on lives, livelihoods, public safety, and regional stability,” meeting the threshold of terrorism.
Kanu was also convicted on counts four and five, which accused him of inciting violence that led to the burning of police stations, killing of security personnel, and destruction of Federal Government property.
The judge said the prosecution established a direct link between Kanu’s directives and the wave of violent attacks by his followers, stressing that the evidence “remains uncontroverted.”
Citing video recordings and broadcasts tendered in court, Justice Omotosho reiterated that Kanu’s threats—such as statements that “people will die” and “everything called Nigeria will perish”—demonstrated clear intent to commit acts of terrorism.
On count seven, the court convicted Kanu for illegally importing a radio transmitter concealed in a container declared as used household items.
Justice Omotosho described the act as a deliberate attempt to operate a subversive communication system without lawful approval.
In his concluding remarks, the judge described Kanu as “an international terrorist” whose actions had “inflicted severe harm, even on his own people.”
The court also upheld the prosecution’s claim that Kanu threatened to bomb the British High Commission in Abuja and assassinate the then High Commissioner, Catriona Laing.
Justice Omotosho said such threats amounted to terrorism of international dimension, noting that diplomatic missions are sovereign spaces protected under international law.
“Kanu claimed to be a freedom fighter, but the evidence before this court shows he has done more harm than good. He is a terrorist and must be treated as such,” the judge held.
The court dismissed Kanu’s allegations of denial of fair hearing, ruling that he was given ample opportunity to defend himself but repeatedly refused to do so.
Following the conviction, prosecuting counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law.
He noted that Kanu weaponised social media to instigate violence and asked the court to restrict his access to electronic communication pending execution, except with approval of the National Security Adviser.
Awomolo also requested that Kanu be remanded in the safest available correctional facility, expressing concerns about the security at Kuje Custodial Centre.
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