The Federal High Court in Abuja has found the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, guilty on Counts One, Two and Three of the terrorism charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday, marks a major turning point in the long-running case, which has spanned several years and drawn national and international attention.
According to Naijaonpoint, Justice James Omotosho upheld the prosecution’s evidence, which alleged that Kanu used a broadcast to threaten violence against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The judge summarised the count as follows: “Committing an act of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria by making a broadcast, threatening that people will die and the world will be at a standstill.”
Justice Omotosho held that the evidence clearly established that the IPOB leader instigated actions capable of terrorising the public.
While delivering the ruling, the judge said, “Kanu knew what he was doing; he was bent on carrying out these threats without consideration to his own people.”
He added that the prosecution’s unchallenged evidence showed that Kanu’s directives amounted to preparatory acts of terrorism.
“He had the duty to explain himself but failed to do so,” the court stated.
At exactly 1:02 pm, Justice Omotosho further noted that material evidence tendered in court demonstrated that Kanu ordered the controversial sit-at-home directive in the South-East.
The judge emphasised that the order, which had caused economic paralysis and widespread fear across the region, reinforced the prosecution’s claims that Kanu instigated acts amounting to terrorism.
Count two states that Kanu issued a deadly threat that anyone who flouted his sit-at-home order would be killed.
While in count three, he professed himself to be a member and leader of IPOB.
Speaking on count four, the judge noted that the prosecution successfully proved that Kanu used a 2021 broadcast to incite violence against members of Nigeria’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
The ruling stated, “In the count filed against him, Kanu made a broadcast in 2021 to incite the people of Nigeria to kill all security personnel.”
Justice Omotosho held that the broadcast was deliberate, inflammatory, and intended to provoke widespread attacks on soldiers, police officers and other security operatives.
The judge further ruled that in Count Five, Kanu made another broadcast urging attacks not only on security personnel but also on their families.
“In count 5, he made a broadcast to hunt and kill families of Nigeria security personnel,” Omotosho said.
The court described the statements as acts of terrorism under Nigerian law, noting that such directives endanger national security and contribute to rising attacks in parts of the country.
According to Justice Omotosho, Kanu was found guilty of making a broadcast to direct members of IPOB to manufacture guns.
While in count seven, he imported into Nigeria and kept in his possession a radio Biafra equipment.
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