A federal high court in Abuja has found Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), guilty on all seven counts of terrorism filed against him by the federal government.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, James Omotosho, the presiding judge, held that the prosecution had successfully established every allegation.
He noted that Kanu offered no credible defence and “deliberately refused” to challenge the evidence presented in court.
Omotosho described the IPOB leader as “a person who cannot be allowed to remain in the company of sane minds”.
He added that Kanu’s long-held claim of being a freedom fighter could not excuse actions taken outside the bounds of the law.
“I must say, here, that the defendant has always claimed to be a freedom fighter and only seeking justice for his people… Any self-determination not done in accordance with the rules and laws of the country is illegal,” the judge said.
According to the judge, Kanu pursued his agitation through “brutal force and terrorism”, an approach he said resulted in the “bloodshed of innocent citizens”.
Omotosho also commended the prosecution witnesses, observing their calm demeanour despite what he described as provocative questioning, and concluding that they were “witnesses of truth”.
