A Nigerian court has found separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism and several related offences, bringing an end to a dramatic legal battle that has lasted more than a decade.
Kanu received four life sentences, alongside additional terms, all to run concurrently. Prosecutors had pushed for the death penalty, but presiding Judge James Omotosho rejected this, saying executions are now “frowned upon” in Nigeria.
Convictions and Courtroom Drama
Kanu was found guilty on all seven charges, including terrorism, treason, and involvement with a proscribed group. The judge said he was convinced that Kanu’s broadcasts encouraged violence and killings in pursuit of an independent Biafran state in south-east Nigeria.
The separatist leader denied all accusations and questioned the court’s jurisdiction. Early in the trial, he dismissed his legal team and eventually refused to defend himself.
He was not present when the verdict was read—Kanu had been removed earlier for unruly behaviour.
Security was tightened around the Abuja courthouse amid fears of protests from his supporters, though reaction in south-eastern Nigeria has so far been largely subdued.
Rise of a Separatist Figure
Once little known, Kanu became a prominent figure in 2009 after launching Radio Biafra, a London-based station advocating for an independent homeland for the Igbo people.
Although he grew up in south-eastern Nigeria and attended the University of Nsukka, Kanu moved to the UK before finishing his degree and later became a British citizen.
In 2014, he founded the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which the Nigerian government designated a terrorist organisation in 2017. IPOB’s armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), has been accused of violent attacks and killings in recent years.
Judge’s Remarks
Delivering judgement, Justice Omotosho said Kanu had intentionally incited violence:
“Mr Kanu knew what he was doing… From the incontrovertible evidence, it is clear that the defendant carried out preparatory acts of terrorism.”
The judge also criticised Kanu for refusing to explain himself:
“He had the duty to defend himself but failed to do so.”
A Long Legal Journey
Kanu’s legal troubles date back to 2015 when he was first arrested.
He later jumped bail in 2017, fleeing the country after the military raided his home. His bail was revoked in 2019.
In 2021, the government announced that Kanu had been re-arrested. His legal team says he was detained in Kenya and forcibly returned to Nigeria—a claim Kenya has never addressed.
In 2022, an appeal court ordered the charges against him dropped, ruling that his arrest abroad was unlawful. But the Nigerian Supreme Court overturned that decision in 2023, restoring the charges.
The Biafra Question
Calls for a separate Biafran state stretch back decades. In 1967, Igbo leaders declared independence, sparking a brutal civil war that left up to one million people dead. The rebellion was defeated, but feelings of political and economic marginalisation among many Igbo people persist.
Although Kanu remains a highly influential figure across the south-east—and commands a global network of supporters—it remains uncertain how many Igbo people actually support full independence.
