Nnamdi Kanu convicted on three terrorism charges by a Federal High Court in Abuja for violent broadcasts and incitement across South-East Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on three terrorism charges, marking a significant development in Nigeria’s legal and security landscape.

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Presiding Judge James Omotosho cited prosecution evidence, including video interviews and broadcasts in which Kanu allegedly threatened violence against Nigeria and its citizens, as the basis for the conviction.

Counts one and two relate to broadcasts that incited killings and enforced sit-at-home orders across South-East states, which the court ruled as acts of terrorism.

Counts four and five cover Kanu’s alleged role in inciting violence during the #EndSARS protests, resulting in deaths of security personnel and destruction of property in Lagos.

Justice Omotosho dismissed Kanu’s claim of being denied a fair hearing and noted that the offences carry a maximum penalty of death under Nigerian law.

He described Kanu’s directives as unconstitutional, inflammatory, and aimed at destabilising public order.

The court highlighted statements in which Kanu claimed that “everything called Nigeria will perish in Biafra” and that members of the Nigerian Army “will die,” adding that such broadcasts caused widespread fear and disruption in communities, including deserted workplaces and farmlands.

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The Nnamdi Kanu conviction underscores the Federal Government’s resolve to address separatist threats and maintain law and order, while legal teams prepare for subsequent appeals.