Nigeria: Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu To Life Imprisonment, Says IPOB Leader An ‘International Terrorist’

On November 20, 2025, a Nigerian court sentenced separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of seven terrorism-related charges. The presiding judge, James Omotosho, described Kanu as an "international terrorist".

Justice James Omotosho said he sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on counts one, four, five, and six, instead of a death sentence.

He also sentenced the IPOB leader to 20 years imprisonment on Count Three, and five years imprisonment on Count Seven, with no option of fine.

He said the sentence shall run concurrently.

Delivering judgment, he said “I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for counts one, four, five, and six, instead of death sentence.

“With respect to Count Three, he is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without no option of fine.

“For Count Seven, he is sentenced to five years imprisonment without no option of fine. To extend the mercy, I hereby order that the sentence shall run concurrently.”

The judge stated that Kanu must be kept in a facility that will be suitable for his custody and should not be allowed close to any digital device, or must be monitored by the office of the National Security Adviser.

He also said that the IPOB leader’s transmitter would be given to the Federal Government.

The court had earlier found Kanu guilty of terrorism against the Federal Government.

Justice James Omotosho, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved its case in the seven counts against Kanu beyond a reasonable doubt.

On Count One, he said that the defendant failed to respond to the broadcast accusation and deliberately refused to enter his defence on it.

Omotosho stated that evidence shown by the prosecution revealed that the defendant ordered the sit-at-home order in the South-East region.

He said Kanu committed an act of terrorism against Nigeria by making a broadcast threatening that people would die and the world would be at a standstill.

The judge said the defendant knew what he was doing and was bent on carrying out the threats without consideration for the lives of his own people.

“From the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution, 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,” Omotosho said.

Justice Omotosho also convicted him on counts two, three and four.

He held that the threats of violence and killings, including the declaration of sit-at-home in the South East states, in his many broadcasts constituted acts of terrorism.

While delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho read transcripts, quoting Kanu’s comments.

Kanu was not in the courtroom when the verdict was delivered, as he had been removed earlier for "unruly behavior".

Kanu, who holds dual Nigerian-British citizenship, has a 90-day window to file an appeal against the judgment.

Kanu is the founder of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a movement that seeks an independent state for the Igbo ethnic group in southeastern Nigeria. The group has been banned as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government.

The judge determined that Kanu's broadcasts and orders incited violence and deadly attacks on security forces and civilians in the region.

Kanu has consistently denied the charges and maintained that his abduction and extradition from Kenya in 2021 were illegal, thus challenging the court's jurisdiction.