Federal High Court Declares Kanu Guilty On Three Major Counts In Terror Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Counts One, Two, and Three of the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government. The decision, delivered on Thursday, represents a pivotal moment in a case that has lasted several years and drawn both national and international scrutiny.

According to Ireporter Online, Justice James Omotosho upheld the prosecution’s arguments, which claimed Kanu used a public broadcast to issue threats of violence against the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The court outlined the first count as “committing an act of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria by making a broadcast in which he threatened that people would die and the world would come to a standstill.”

Justice Omotosho ruled that the evidence provided convincingly demonstrated that Kanu encouraged actions capable of instilling widespread fear. He stated that Kanu “knew exactly what he was doing and was determined to carry out these threats without regard for his own people.”

The court added that the prosecution’s evidence, which was not challenged by the defence, showed that Kanu’s directives amounted to preparatory acts of terrorism. “He had the responsibility to clarify his actions but failed to do so,” the judge noted.

At about 1:02 pm, the court further observed that the material evidence presented established that Kanu ordered the controversial sit-at-home directive across the South-East. Justice Omotosho stressed that the directive—linked to economic disruption and heightened fear in the region—strengthened the prosecution’s claim that Kanu incited acts equivalent to terrorism.

The second count accused Kanu of issuing a deadly threat that anyone who violated the sit-at-home order would be killed. The third count involved his declaration identifying himself as a member and leader of IPOB.