BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu Guilty—Court Slams Terrorism Conviction on IPOB Leader
By: Abudu Olalekan
The gavel fell. And just like that, Nnamdi Kanu’s fate hung in the balance.
An Abuja Federal High Court convicted the fiery IPOB leader on three terrorism charges Thursday, ruling that his radio broadcasts, sit-at-home orders, and calls for violence crossed the line into terror. Presiding Judge James Omotosho didn’t mince words—Kanu’s own recordings, his threats to burn shop owners alive, his declarations that “Nigeria will perish”, sealed his guilt.
“A person found guilty of this offence faces the maximum penalty—death,” the judge warned.
But Kanu? He wasn’t having it. His lawyers slammed the verdict as a “sham”, insisting the trial was rigged from the start. And just hours before the ruling, they’d rushed to the Court of Appeal, begging for a last-minute halt. No luck. The higher court hadn’t even scheduled a hearing.
Now, the South-East braces for fallout.
“We Will Burn You in That Shop” — The Evidence That Doomed Kanu
The courtroom was packed, tense. Then the judge started playing the clips.
Kanu’s voice, cold and unshaken, echoed through the speakers:
“I know some of you are foolish… trying to open your shops by 12 noon. If you do that, we will burn you in that shop.”
That was one of many. The prosecution stacked videos, broadcasts, and transcripts—proof, they said, that Kanu wasn’t just talking separatism. He was commanding violence.
The judge agreed. Three counts stuck:
Inciting killings through Radio Biafra broadcasts.
Enforcing sit-at-home orders—a move the court called “subversive, unconstitutional”, crippling the South-East’s economy.
Fueling #EndSARS chaos—accused of stoking attacks on security forces in Lagos.
“This is not free speech,” Omotosho fired back. “This is terrorism.”
Kanu’s team fought hard. They argued the whole trial was illegal—that his 2021 abduction from Kenya was a kidnapping, not an arrest. That the charges were vague, political. That Nigeria’s terrorism laws were stretched too thin.
The judge wasn’t buying it. “He was given a fair hearing,” Omotosho insisted.
Death Penalty on the Table—But Will It Happen?
Here’s the chilling part: Under Nigeria’s terrorism laws, Kanu could face execution.
But let’s be real—Nigeria hasn’t executed anyone in years. Life imprisonment? Far more likely. Still, the symbolism stings. The government wanted to send a message: Cross this line, and we’ll bury you under the law.
Kanu’s lawyers? They’re already gearing up for appeal. Their argument:
No fair trial (how do you trust a court when your client was grabbed in another country?).
No real terrorism (was it speech or action? Where’s the line?).
Political witch-hunt (IPOB’s been labeled a terror group since 2017—convenient timing).
And then there’s the UN. Back in 2022, its Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Kanu’s detention was illegal, that he should be freed and compensated. Nigeria ignored them.
Now? The international spotlight’s back.
What Happens Next? Chaos, Appeals, and a Region on Edge
- The South-East Won’t Stay Quiet
IPOB’s already rejecting the verdict. Expect:
More sit-at-home orders (their way of protesting with economic pain).
Clashes with security forces (the group’s armed wing, ESN, won’t take this lying down).
Diaspora protests (London, New York—Kanu’s supporters are loud and organized).
- The Legal Battle’s Far From Over
Kanu’s team will drag this to the Supreme Court if they have to. Key questions:
Was his arrest legal? (If Kenya illegally handed him over, the whole case could collapse.)
Is “terrorism” the right charge? (Or is this political silencing?)
Will the UK intervene? (Kanu’s a British citizen—London’s been quiet so far, but pressure’s building.)
- Tinubu’s Government Has a Mess on Its Hands
President Bola Tinubu inherited this headache. His options?
Double down (crush IPOB, risk more unrest).
Negotiate (but that’s political suicide—no Nigerian leader wants to look “soft on separatists”).
Ignore it and hope it fades (spoiler: it won’t).
The Bigger Picture: When Speech Becomes “Terror”
This isn’t just about Kanu. It’s about where Nigeria draws the line.
Is calling for Biafra “terrorism”? Or is it dissent?
Can the government jail its way out of separatism? (Spoiler: No. Ask Cameroon. Ask Spain.)
What’s next for free speech? If Kanu’s broadcasts are terror, what stops them from coming for activists, journalists, even opposition politicians?
The court said Kanu crossed a line. His supporters say Nigeria crossed one first.
Final Thought: A Verdict That Changes Nothing—and Everything
Kanu’s in legal limbo. The South-East’s simmering. The government’s digging in.
One thing’s clear: This isn’t over.
Not by a long shot.
