In a landmark and contentious ruling, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment. The decision follows Kanu’s conviction on terrorism charges related to “sit-at-home” orders and leading a proscribed organisation.
The court found Kanu guilty on several counts, including inciting violence, directing the Monday sit-at-home directive across Nigeria’s Southeast region, and heading IPOB, which the government argues is a terrorist group. According to the judgment, delivered on November 20, 2025, Justice Omotosho said the evidence against Kanu was compelling: the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and Kanu’s defense strategy was effectively foreclosed after he refused to present any evidence in his favor.
In his ruling, the judge underscored that issuing a “sit-at-home” order is not just a political action but a deliberate act of terrorism, especially when accompanied by credible threats and enforced through violence. Under the Terrorism Prevention Act, such offenses carry very stiff penalties — including life in jail or death — and the court opted for the former in Kanu’s case.
Justice Omotosho was especially harsh in his characterization of Kanu. He said that Kanu had “turned himself into a tyrant” whose broadcasts contributed to unrest, property destruction, and the killing of security personnel. According to the court, Kanu’s public messages, often made via online broadcasts, were not framed merely as political agitation but carried clear threats, calls for violence, and defiance of state authority.
On sentencing day, the judge told Kanu that his repeated refusal to offer a defense or rebut the government’s evidence left the court no choice. The prosecution, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adegboyega Awomolo, had argued strongly for the death penalty, citing the Supreme Court-prescribed maximum punishment under several counts. But Justice Omotosho opted for life imprisonment, saying that while death was on the table, a life sentence was legally justified and necessary given the gravity of the offenses.
The ruling is likely to reverberate across Nigeria’s southeast, where IPOB remains deeply influential among some communities. Kanu, who holds dual Nigerian and British citizenship, has long been a polarizing figure: seen by some as a freedom fighter for Igbo self-determination, and by others as a destabilizing menace.
His supporters have already signaled they might challenge the verdict. Before the judgment, Kanu filed motions at the Court of Appeal seeking to halt proceedings, arguing the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction or had misapplied terrorism laws. Whether he will be granted a new hearing or appeal successfully remains uncertain, but the life sentence marks a critical inflection point in his long-running legal battle.
Beyond the courtroom, the decision raises broader questions about Nigeria’s handling of separatist movements, freedom of speech, and what constitutes political dissent versus terrorism. Many analysts warn that this ruling could heighten tensions in the Southeast, especially if IPOB’s base views the court’s move as political repression rather than justice.
For now, Kanu is expected to remain in custody, and his fate — and that of his movement — may hinge on how both his legal team and his followers respond. Meanwhile, the government will likely use this decision as a signal that it regards IPOB’s tactics as not only unlawful, but fundamentally hostile to the state.