The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment over terrorism offences.
Kanu stood trial for seven-count charges of terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government. Delivering judgement on Thursday, November 20, 2025, Justice James Omotosho pronounced the Biafran agitator convicted on all charges.
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Arugba argued that her updates were based on direct information from residents and family members in Eruku, accusing authorities of issuing a misleading account of what happened.
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The court found Kanu guilty of terrorism charges following evidence adduced by the prosecution, including radio broadcasts featuring the IPOB leader.
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Despite the potential for a death sentence on counts one, four, five, and six, the judge upheld the law and sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment, demonstrating a commitment to justice.
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Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He held that the prosecution had successfully established every allegation, while the defendant offered no credible defence and “deliberately refused” to challenge the evidence presented in court.
The judge added that the IPOB leader was “a person who cannot be allowed to remain in the company of sane minds,” while describing him as an “international terrorist.”
“I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for counts one, four, five, and six, instead of a death sentence,” Omotosho ruled.
“With respect to Count Three, he is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without no option of a fine.
“For Count Seven, he is sentenced to five years imprisonment without no option of fine. To extend the mercy, I hereby order that the sentence shall run concurrently.”
On his decision not to hand the convict a death penalty, the judge cited a biblical verse that espouses the virtue of mercy, coupled with the fact that capital punishment is now being frowned upon by the international community.
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Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Before the sentencing, the Federal Government, through its senior counsel in the matter, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had asked for the death penalty.
“The punishment prescribed for the offences in Counts One, Two, Four, Five and Six, pursuant to Section 12H of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013, is death,” he noted.
“With all sense of humility, I say as a prosecutor that this court has no discretion in that regard.
“The only sentence Your Lordship can impose for Counts One, Two, Four, Five and Six is death, because the law empowers you to do so, and we expect that you will.”
However, the judge noted that even though Kanu’s crimes merited capital punishment, he opted for a life sentence to show mercy.
