By Merciful Omoba
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on terrorism charges, ruling that his broadcasts and sit-at-home threats in the South-east constituted acts of terrorism.
Justice James Omotosho, delivering judgment on Wednesday, found Kanu guilty on three counts of the seven-count charge brought by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The court held that Kanu’s threats of violence, including declarations of sit-at-home orders, satisfied the legal definition of terrorism. The judgment is ongoing.
The conviction comes after a series of legal developments. In October, the Court of Appeal discharged Kanu of terrorism charges, citing procedural irregularities in his extraordinary rendition back to Nigeria, and questioned the trial court’s jurisdiction.
However, the federal government filed amended seven-count charges against Kanu and secured a stay of the appellate judgment pending its appeal at the Supreme Court.
The amended charges allege that between 2015 and 2021, Kanu issued deadly threats via broadcasts that caused businesses and public services across South-eastern states to shut down, incited violence against security personnel and their families, and imported a radio transmitter used to coordinate operations.
The government also accused him of directing IPOB members to manufacture explosives.
Kanu, representing himself in court, refused to open a defence, challenging the legality of the terrorism charges.
He argued that no Nigerian law underpins the prosecution’s case and demanded either immediate release or bail.
The case continues to attract national attention, reflecting ongoing tensions over security and governance in the South-east region of Nigeria.
