A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on the first count of seven terrorism charges brought against him.

The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the trial. In his ruling, the judge referenced evidence presented by the prosecution, including video interviews in which Kanu made multiple violent threats against Nigeria and its citizens.

The first count pertains to a broadcast Kanu made in September 2021, which prosecutors allege was “with intent to intimidate the population.” During the broadcast, Kanu reportedly threatened that “people would die” and that “the whole world would standstill.”

The prosecution classified this broadcast as an act of terrorism under section 1(2)(b) of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2015.

While reviewing the evidence, Justice Omotosho cited video recordings submitted by the prosecution, noting that Kanu issued violent threats that demonstrated a clear intent.

“His intention was quite clear as he believed in violence. These threats of violence were nothing but terrorist acts, which were duly carried out by his followers. He was consumed by violence and didn’t mind if his own people died in the process. It is clear that the defendant carried out preparatory acts of terrorism,” the judge stated.

The court also observed that Kanu repeatedly declined opportunities to provide context for his broadcasts.

“Consequently, the defendant is hereby convicted with respect to count one,” Omotosho declared.

The court is continuing to deliver judgment on the remaining six counts against Kanu.

More to come…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja announced on Thursday that the judgment in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will be delivered in the defendant’s absence.

The ruling followed what the judge described as Kanu’s unruly behaviour during the resumed trial session earlier in the day.

Earlier, Omotosho had ordered that Kanu be removed from the courtroom after he disrupted proceedings midway through the session.

Prior to the removal, the judge had dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu, ruling them unmeritorious after the case had been adjourned for judgment.

As the judge prepared to deliver the scheduled ruling for Thursday, November 20, Kanu challenged the court, insisting it could not proceed because he had not filed his final written address.

During the outburst, Kanu raised his voice, accusing Justice Omotosho of bias and claiming that the judge did not understand the law.

Following the disruption, Kanu was moved out of the courtroom, allowing the judge to proceed with delivering the final judgment in his absence.

Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Thursday, openly confronted the Federal High Court during proceedings, asserting that his trial could not continue because he had not submitted his final written address.

A video circulating online showed Kanu directly addressing the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, challenging the legitimacy of the court’s proceedings in his case.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

He insisted that the trial lacked legal basis without his final address and criticized the prosecution for proceeding under what he described as a repealed law.

During the confrontation, Kanu asked, “Which law states that you can charge me on a repealed law? Show me. Omotosho where is the law? Any judgment declared in this Court is complete rubbish.”

He further accused the court of overstepping its authority, stating, “You don’t know the law, show me where it says you can waive the right to a final address, Omotosho show me the law.”

Kanu’s challenge comes amid heightened national attention on his trial, which has been closely followed by legal experts, media outlets, and political observers.

The court’s response to Kanu’s objections was not detailed in the report, though the incident added to the tense atmosphere surrounding proceedings against the IPOB leader.