by Godwin Orozo Abuja-
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Counts One, Two and Three of the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho, marks a significant milestone in the high-profile case that has unfolded over several years and drawn intense national and international scrutiny.
Justice Omotosho upheld the Federal Government’s position that Kanu used a broadcast platform to issue threats capable of triggering widespread violence and fear across the country.
According to the judge, the prosecution successfully proved that Kanu engaged in “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.”
He said the evidence showed that the IPOB leader instigated actions capable of terrorising the public, stressing:
“Kanu knew what he was doing; he was bent on carrying out these threats without consideration to his own people.”
Justice Omotosho added that the prosecution’s evidence, which went unchallenged during trial, established that Kanu issued directives that constituted preparatory acts of terrorism.
“He had the duty to explain himself but failed to do so,” the court held.
At exactly 1:02 p.m., the judge noted that the material evidence tendered in court confirmed that Kanu ordered the controversial sit-at-home directive across the South-East—a directive that led to widespread fear and economic disruption in the region.
He emphasised that the order strengthened the prosecution’s argument that Kanu instigated acts amounting to terrorism.
Count Two of the charge states that Kanu issued a deadly threat, warning that anyone who disobeyed the sit-at-home order would be killed.
Count Three asserts that Kanu openly professed himself to be both a member and the leader of IPOB.
