ABUJA: A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on several terrorism-related charges in a judgment still being delivered.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, first found Kanu guilty on two counts bordering on acts of terrorism. According to the court, Kanu’s repeated declarations of sit-at-home orders across the South-East, along with threats of violence and killings issued through his broadcasts, qualified as acts of terrorism under Nigerian law.
As the judgment continued, Justice Omotosho also convicted Kanu on three additional counts, including belonging to a proscribed organization and inciting followers to commit violent acts.
The judge held that evidence presented by the prosecution showed that Kanu remained an active member of IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), despite their proscription.
The court further ruled that broadcasts attributed to Kanu encouraged attacks that resulted in the deaths of security operatives and the destruction of facilities such as police stations.
The ruling is ongoing, with decisions on the remaining charges expected as the sitting progresses.
Earlier in the proceedings, Justice Omotosho ordered Kanu’s removal from the courtroom after he became rowdy.
The judge noted that the defendant disrupted the session by insisting the court could not proceed with the judgment because he had not filed a final written address. Kanu accused the judge of bias and claimed the court did not know the law.
The court, however, dismissed his fresh motions as lacking merit, noting that they were filed after the matter had been fixed for judgment. Justice Omotosho continued with the ruling in Kanu’s absence after security operatives escorted him out.
