ABUJA, Nigeria — A Nigerian court has sentenced Biafran separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment on seven terrorism-related charges, sparking sharp reactions from both his legal team and state prosecutors.
Kanu was accused of terrorism-related acts, including issuing and violently enforcing weekly stay-at-home orders across the southeast, instructing others on bomb-making targeting government facilities, and incitement.
Defense Reaction
His lawyer Aloy Ejimakor condemned the ruling, calling it “overbroad, cruel, and unusual.” Ejimakor argued that Kanu was convicted “for simply what he said, not for actions he took,” and vowed to continue challenging the judgment until “justice prevails.”
Prosecution’s Position
State prosecutors welcomed the sentence, noting they had initially sought the death penalty. Prosecutor Adegboyega Awomolo said: “We must not compromise national security for sentiment. This verdict serves as a warning that no one is above the law.”
Background
Kanu was arrested in 2021 and extradited from Kenya after missing a 2015 court appearance. He has long campaigned to revive Biafra, a breakaway region in southeastern Nigeria whose attempted secession between 1967 and 1970 sparked the Nigerian Civil War, leaving an estimated 3 million people dead before surrender.