Nnamdi Kanu Life Imprisonment: Federal Court Hands Down Controversial Sentence
By: Abudu Olalekan
Nnamdi Kanu won’t be walking free anytime soon. On Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja handed down a life sentence to the embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). It was a moment that’d been building for days. And honestly? It was heavy.
The judge spared no words. He called Kanu’s actions “atrocious.” He described the defendant as “arrogant, cocky, and full of himself.” But here’s where it gets interesting—despite all that criticism, the court didn’t impose the death penalty. Why? International pressure. The judge was very clear about this. Global opposition to capital punishment played a role in the decision.
“Life is sacred to God,” Justice Omotosho said, quoting scripture to justify the mercy. He referenced Matthew 23:23, talking about judgment, mercy, and faith. It was an unusual moment—combining courtroom formality with spiritual conviction. The judge essentially argued that while Kanu deserved harsh punishment, justice had to be tempered with compassion.
Here’s what the sentence actually breaks down to: life imprisonment on counts 1, 4, 5, and 6. On count 7? Twenty years without parole. And another five years on yet another count. All sentences run concurrently. Meaning he’s looking at a life sentence, period.
The charges centered on terrorism. That “sit-at-home” order Kanu pushed across Southeast Nigeria—backed by threats and enforced through violence—that’s what did it. The court ruled it constituted a terrorist act under Section 16 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013.
What really caught everyone’s attention was Kanu’s courtroom behavior. The judge literally removed him from proceedings earlier that week because of “unruly behaviour.” On the morning of sentencing? Kanu was allegedly expressing violence again. Nearly assaulted security officers, according to the judge’s account. That kind of conduct reinforced the court’s view about his violent tendencies. It didn’t help his case. Not one bit.
The conviction itself came after Kanu refused to mount a proper defense. Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution’s case went unchallenged. “The defendant is hereby convicted in respect of count one,” the judge had stated. And then it snowballed from there. Convicted on all counts. Every single one.
What’s striking here is the contradiction. The judge acknowledged Kanu showed zero remorse. The guy’s still displaying what the court called “persistent tendency of violence.” And yet, mercy won out. Not because Kanu deserved it. But because of what the judge called “shifting global norms” against death sentences.
Reports came through from Reportersroom earlier that the Federal High Court had already convicted Kanu on count two of the terrorism charges. The prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The bar for conviction was met. Exceeded, even.
This case has been contentious from the start. Kanu’s supporters see him as a freedom fighter. Others view him as a security threat. What’s undeniable is that the court found him guilty on multiple terrorism-related charges and sentenced him accordingly.
The life sentence effectively ends any immediate prospects of freedom for the IPOB leader. Whether appeals will succeed remains to be seen. But for now, that’s it. Life behind bars. Justice served. Or at least, justice as the court saw it.
