A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment following his conviction on terrorism charges.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya and returned to Nigeria for trial.
The judge imposed a life sentence on Kanu in respect of counts one, two, four, five and six of the seven-count charge brought against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
On count three, which concerned his membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, Justice Omotosho sentenced Kanu to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.
For count seven, relating to the unlawful importation of a radio transmitter intended to further the clandestine broadcasts of Radio Biafra a station not registered in Nigeria the court imposed a five-year sentence, also without an option of fine.
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Justice Omotosho remarked that Kanu had been “unruly” throughout the proceedings. He noted that although the law permitted the court to impose the death penalty for terrorism offences, he had, “as a Christian”, opted to exercise mercy in sentencing.
The court further ordered that Kanu be held in protective custody in any secure facility within the country, excluding Kuje Prison in Abuja, and directed that the seized radio transmitter be forfeited to the Nigerian Government.
