The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday found Nnamdi Kanu , the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), guilty on all seven terrorism charges brought by the government. In a forceful judgment, Justice James Omotosho said the prosecution had proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt and described Kanu’s broadcasts and directives as having helped fuel deadly violence across the southeast.
Delivering his ruling, the judge concluded that Kanu used Radio Biafra broadcasts and public statements to issue threats and direct unlawful actions, including enforcement of a sit-at-home order that prosecutors say contributed to killings of civilians and security personnel. The court also admitted documents and witness testimony linking the broadcasts to attacks that left several people dead.
“The prosecution has successfully established the seven charges against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt,” the court said in its judgment.
Justice Omotosho went further to label Kanu an “international terrorist,” citing evidence that the defendant’s broadcasts encouraged the manufacture and use of explosives and called on followers to attack perceived opponents. The judge said that some of those broadcasts were deliberate and that Kanu, who repeatedly asserted his role as IPOB’s leader, showed an intent that the court characterized as preparatory acts of terrorism.
The prosecution presented a range of exhibits and testimonial evidence during the trial. Among the items admitted was the death certificate and medical report relating to the 2021 killing of Ahmed Gulak, a former presidential aide documents prosecutors say connect the sit-at-home orders and radio directives to real-world violence in Imo State and beyond.
Courtroom scenes turned tense as Kanu repeatedly sought to make a final address. After exchanges between the defendant and the bench, security officers escorted him from the dock when the judge found his conduct disruptive. The judge also rejected a last-minute bail application and ruled that the trial process had been fair and lawful.
Kanu, who has previously represented himself in court and periodically dismissed members of his legal team, will have the opportunity to appeal the conviction in higher courts. His supporters have long argued that his arrest and prosecution have political overtones; the government insists it has only applied the law.
The ruling marks a major turning point in a case that has simmered for years and which continues to stir political tensions across the country’s southeast. The court reserved sentencing details and next procedural steps for the formal sentencing hearing that will follow the judgment.