Nigerian separatist leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a decade-long legal battle.
He was found guilty of terrorism and other charges by a Federal High Court sitting at Abuja and presided over by Honourable Justice James Omotosho and convicted on all seven charges he faced. As well as terrorism, the charges included treason and involvement with an outlawed movement.
Kanu was removed from the court during the delivery of the verdict for unruly behaviour.
He was handed four life sentences, along with other terms, to be served concurrently.
Prosecution wanted the death penalty for Kanu as the maximum penalty prescribed by law, but Justice Omotosho said that executions were now “frowned upon.”
The judge, however, said he was satisfied that Kanu had made a series of broadcasts to incite violence and killings, as part of his campaign for a separate state in south-east Nigeria, known as Biafra.
According to Justice Omotosho, “Mr Kanu knew what he was doing, he was bent on carrying out these threats without consideration to his own people.
“From the incontroverted evidence, it is clear that the defendant carried out a preparatory act of terrorism.
“He had the duty to explain himself, but failed to do so.”
Kanu always denied the charges and challenged the court’s jurisdiction. At the start of the trial, he sacked his lawyers but refused to defend himself.
