₦airaland Forum

A court in Nigeria has found separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism and other charges following a decade-long legal case full of drama.

He has been given four life sentences, along with other terms, to be served concurrently. The prosecution had called for the death penalty but Judge James Omotosho said that executions were now "frowned upon".

In his ruling he 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.

Kanu was convicted on all seven charges he faced. As well as terrorism, they included treason and involvement with an outlawed movement.

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.

He was not in court when the verdict was delivered, after being removed for unruly behaviour.

Security around the courthouse in the capital, Abuja, was tightened ahead of the verdict in case of protests by Kanu's supporters.

Once a relatively obscure figure, he came to national prominence in 2009 when he started Radio Biafra, a station that called for an independent state for the Igbo people, broadcast to Nigeria from London.

Though he grew up in south-eastern Nigeria, where he attended the University of Nsukka, Kanu moved to the UK before graduating, and acquired British nationality.

In 2014, he set up the Indigenous People Of Biafra (Ipob), a movement demanding independence.

Ipob was banned as a terrorist organisation in 2017. Its armed wing - the Eastern Security Network - has been accused of killings and other acts of violence in recent years.


Delivering his judgement, Justice Omotosho said: "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 preparatory act of terrorism.

"He had the duty to explain himself but failed to do so."

Kanu is a popular figure in his movement's heartland in south-eastern Nigeria, but reaction to the verdict there has so far been muted.

In court ahead of the ruling, Kanu insisted that proceedings could not continue because he had not yet filed his final written address, accusing the judge of bias and not understanding the law.

The judgement was delivered after Kanu had been forcibly removed from the courtroom for unruly behaviour.

He was first arrested in October 2015 but he jumped bail in 2017 and left the country after a military raid on his home. The court later revoked his bail in March 2019.

Two years later, the government announced that he had been re-arrested. His lawyers say he was detained in Kenya and forcibly returned to Nigeria. Kenya has not commented.

In 2022, an appeal court ordered that the charges against him be dropped, saying he had been illegally arrested abroad, but this ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court the following year.

The calls for Biafran independence date back many years.

In 1967 Igbo leaders declared a Biafran state, but after a brutal civil war, which led to the deaths of up to a million people, the secessionist rebellion was defeated.

Many Igbo people continue to feel that they are marginalised by the Nigerian state however, it is not clear how many are in favour of independence.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3z38e6v45o.amp

BBC news reporting from London

The judgement is still fresh... Lets see how the coming weeks and months headlines will be.

I have a feelings that all this are just political move. Because since he can't be kept in Kuje prison , I wonder any good prison they can take him too.

The judgement is just temporary. The major problem is that he is too smart and intelligent that some long kept secrets of Nigeria were revealed by him. Imagine that many people could not believe that Buhari died in 2017, but the manner of the recent purported death opened many people's eyes.
He was extradited immediately he made it clear that Buhari was dead.

God bless Mazi Nnamdi kanu

chiagozien:
God bless Mazi Nnamdi kanu

you nkor you no need em blessing

fnep2smooth:
The judgement is still fresh... Lets see how the coming weeks and months headlines will be.

I have a feelings that all this are just political move. Because since he can't be kept in Kuje prison , I wonder any good prison they can take him too.

Sokoto or Yola prison for the first 5 years, then they can bring him down south to Ogbomosho correctional center for rehabilitation back to society for a few more years, b4 deportation back to his country the United Kingdom.

chiagozien:
God bless Mazi Nnamdi kanu

He definitely needs your prayers & blessings, because where he is headed to, is no joking matter. obataokenwa.

gidgiddy:
He was first arrested in October 2015 but he jumped bail in 2017 and left the country after a military raid on his home. The court later revoked his bail in March 2019.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj3z38e6v45o.amp

IPOB and Obidients are now praising Buratai who ordered the raid on Kanu's home because Buratai attacked Wike. It's just a matter of time, IPOB and Obidients will fully forget about Kanu while he's rotting in jail

Ikaeniyan0:
IPOB are now praising Burutai who ordered the raid on Kanu home because Buratai attacked Wike

Yes them gidgiddy, Orlandoo dey support operation python dance orchestra Burutai today, because of their hatred for Nyesom Wike.

Burob:
Sokoto or Yola prison.

If you think Nnamdi KANU will leave Abuja, you are a very big learner.....

Tinubu wants a deal and he feels it will never happen unless he placed Nnamdi KANU in a very tough conditions.

Most of you are simply too emotional to understand Tinubu and his style of politics.



🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

fnep2smooth:
The judgement is still fresh... Lets see how the coming weeks and months headlines will be.

I have a feelings that all this are just political move. Because since he can't be kept in Kuje prison , I wonder any good prison they can take him too.

Gashua Prison fits Kanu perfectly.
Or, Yola Prisons.

MEGAWATCH:
If you think Nnamdi KANU will leave Abuja, you are a very big learner.....

Tinubu wants a deal and he feels it will never happen unless he placed Nnamdi KANU in a very tough conditions.

Most of you are simply too emotional to understand Tinubu and his style of politics.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

But you guys said they won't convict Kanu.

You will learn painful lessons.

Burob:
He definitely needs your prayers & blessings, because where he is headed to, is no joking matter. obataokenwa.

Are you done claiming Urhobo, go and rescue your people in the hands of fulani terrorists when you done celebrating, three has been killed already

MEGAWATCH:
If you think Nnamdi KANU will leave Abuja, you are a very big learner.....

Tinubu wants a deal and he feels it will never happen unless he placed Nnamdi KANU in a very tough conditions.

Most of you are simply too emotional to understand Tinubu and his style of politics.



🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Nobody needs anything from the worthless votes of the 5 percenters, he won without your votes in 2023, he will without your votes in 2027.

Give the 100% votes to Gringory Obi, Tinubu no need am.

Whatever Soludo & Mbah can deliver will be enough, even I am sure Tinubu’s man Otti in Abia will try & scrap a few votes for him.

Gerhards:
Are you done claiming Urhobo, go and rescue your people in the hands of fulani terrorists when you done celebrating, three has been killed already

Governor Sheriff is delivering on The M.O.R.E. agenda, everything nice, it is peaceful & calm in The Big Heart State.

Burob:
Nobody needs anything from the worthless votes of the 5 percenters, he won without your votes in 2023, he will without your votes in 2027.

Give the 100% votes to Gringory Obi, Tinubu no need am.

Whatever Soludo & Mbah can deliver will be enough, even I am sure Tinubu’s man Otti in Abia will try & scrap a few votes for him.

My greatest happiness is that the most naive people in Nigeria are the Yorubas because they are so stuck in their region and that's why their tribal sentiment is out of this world.

If you are so intelligent which I doubt, you would have wonder why Nigerians from core North, North Central and South East were happy when that young Army officer humbled Wike few weeks ago.

That's a sign of how Tinubu is hatred across Nigeria.

Your Tinubu has set fire in the North with terrorist activities. The North Central is gone and now the south east and your block head is still telling you that all is well for him. This was a man that the likes of El-rufia came to help when he lost Lagos and Osun states when things was not out of control like it is now.

Your brain must be in the shrine resting now.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

MEGAWATCH:
My greatest happiness is that the most naive people in Nigeria are the Yorubas because they are so stuck in their region and that's why their tribal sentiment is out of this world.

If you are so intelligent which I doubt, you would have wonder why Nigerians from core North, North Central and South East were happy when that young Army officer humbled Wike few weeks ago.

That's a sign of how Tinubu is hatred across Nigeria.

Your Tinubu has set fire in the North with terrorist activities. The North Central is gone and now the south east and your block head is still telling you that all is well for him. This was a man that the likes of El-rufia came to help when he lost Lagos and Osun states when things was not out of control like it is now.

Your brain must be in the shrine resting now.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

U just make me dey laugh, humbled Wike? I believe to you that soldier humbled honorable Minister of The FCT Nyesom Wike, just like the way Mazi Nnamdi Kanu humbled Justice James Omotosho in court today abi?

Typical cho cho cho pickin.

The court case has not been going on for a decade. That's a lie

Dreal1247:
The judgement is just temporary. The major problem is that he is too smart and intelligent that some long kept secrets of Nigeria were revealed by him. Imagine that many people could not believe that Buhari died in 2017, but the manner of the recent purported death opened many people's eyes.
He was extradited immediately he made it clear that Buhari was dead.

.
Although I don't support Kanu's sentence, I challenge you to come with proofs that Buhalri died in 2017. Yiu are an educated man, so behave as such and stop spreading fake and stale news in this 21st century. May this country be spilt into fragments soonest. If that's the only thing BPat can achieve, it is okay. Let's split this dysfunctional country called Nigeria. It is not working.

The irony is that The British passport could not save him

Finish passport could not save sam ekpa

Burob:
U just make me dey laugh, humbled Wike? I believe to you that soldier humbled honorable Minister of The FCT Nyesom Wike, just like the way Mazi Nnamdi Kanu humbled Justice James Omotosho in court today abi?

Typical cho cho cho pickin.

Who were Nigerians celebrating?

Like I said before you need to check your brain very well.

That's how you are counting on Soludu who never did anything when Peter Obi won almost 90 percent of the vote in his state and you are in Ekiti trusting him.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

MEGAWATCH:
Who were Nigerians celebrating?

Like I said before you need to check your brain very well.

That's how you are counting on Soludu who never did anything when Peter Obi won almost 90 percent of the vote in his state and you are in Ekiti trusting him.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Michael Jordan & the Chicago Bulls did a 3 peat, back to back to back, President Tinubu doesn’t need your worthless 5 percenters vote to win in 2027, he won as an ordinary candidate in 2023 without it, & as the champion today, he definitely doesn’t need those worthless votes.

Gringory Obi na em need am, at least he needs it to say I got a few votes to seem as if he mounted a challenge against the reigning champion.

ibtommy:
.
Although I don't support Kanu's sentence, I challenge you to come with proofs that Buhalri died in 2017. Yiu are an educated man, so behave as such and stop spreading fake and stale news in this 21st century. May this country be spilt into fragments soonest. If that's the only thing BPat can achieve, it is okay. Let's split this dysfunctional country called Nigeria. It is not working.

Go and follow the sequence of his sickness and his death. Just two days and then he is dead. There are many questions that are begging for answers.

Burob:
Michael Jordan & the Chicago Bulls did a 3 peat, back to back to back, President Tinubu doesn’t need your worthless 5 percenters vote to win in 2027, he won as an ordinary candidate in 2023, as the champion today, he definitely doesn’t need those worthless votes.

Gringory Obi na em need am, at least he needs it to say I got a few votes to seem as if he mounted a challenge against the reigning champion.

Pray to win at least Lagos this time with this suffering and struggling lifestyle he has given you people for almost three goo years now.

Ask your Tinubu why he is afraid of other parties as the jagaban of politics he claimed to be...🤣🤣🤣🤣

THE ANTICIPATION OF FAILURE IS WORST THAN FAILURES IT'S SELF.

El-rufia has already given him a third position in the coming election and that's why he wants to set the country of fire with all his supporters.



🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The man had caused useless deaths though, life imprisonment seems to be fair and just.
Our omoluabi judge did applied unique wisdom in this case.
God heal and bless Nigeria.



Tinubu, a bad man with good intentions.

MEGAWATCH:
Pray to win at least Lagos this time with this suffering and struggling lifestyle he has given you people for almost three goo years now.

Ask your Tinubu why he is afraid of other parties as the jagaban of politics he claimed to be...🤣🤣🤣🤣

THE ANTICIPATION OF FAILURE IS WORST THAN FAILURES IT'S SELF.

El-rufia has already given him a third position in the coming election and that's why he wants to set the country of fire with all his supporters.



🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I was really surprised 2 days ago when Gringory accused President Tinubu of been the person causing the chaos in the opposition.

From The SDP, to The LP & The PDP, Obi blamed the President of the fed, he claimed that it was Tinubu, causing confusion amongst them, that he wants a 1 party State.

Quite obvious that he Gringory has read the hand writing on the wall, when u start to accuse your opponent of causing dissatisfaction in your camp, u have already surrendered to defeat.

Burob:
Governor Sheriff is delivering on The M.O.R.E. agenda, everything nice, it is peaceful & calm in The Big Heart State.

Yoruba be proud of who you are, even though you all following Tinubu script’s of denying his Iragbiji people, and refused to attend his parents burial just to become Lagos indegene

Thanks God I didn’t come from that of world

Burob:
I was really surprised 2 days ago when Gringory accused President Tinubu of been the person causing the chaos in the opposition.

From The SDP, to The LP & The PDP, Obi blamed the President of the fed, he claimed that it was Tinubu, causing confusion amongst them, that he wants a 1 party State.

Quite obvious that he Gringory has read the hand writing on the wall, when u start to accuse your opponent of causing dissatisfaction in your camp, u have already surrendered to defeat.

When Tinubu accuse Obasanjo of causing problems in AD when he was the governor of Lagos how old were you?

Were you up to 18 years at that time?

I never knew I was engaging a toddler before now.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Burob:
I was really surprised 2 days ago when Gringory accused President Tinubu of been the person causing the chaos in the opposition.

From The SDP, to The LP & The PDP, Obi blamed the President of the fed, he claimed that it was Tinubu, causing confusion amongst them, that he wants a 1 party State.

Quite obvious that he Gringory has read the hand writing on the wall, when u start to accuse your opponent of causing dissatisfaction in your camp, u have already surrendered to defeat.

He was right, he will lose in 2027 even if 36 Governors defect to APC. Only his terrorists friends can vote for him 😁😁🤣

A case of terrorist words speaking louder than terrorist actions.

Gerhards:
Yoruba be proud of who you are, even though you all following Tinubu script’s of denying his Iragbiji people, and refused to attend his parents burial just to become Lagos indegene

Thanks God I didn’t come from that of world

Quite obvious that u are ashamed of where u come from, u look 👀 @ yourself in the mirror, & assume others are like u?

From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks so it isn’t too hard to perceive your inferiority complex, yes definitely in the Federal Republic of Nigeria we Urhobos cannot be compared to the Yoruba tribe, in Nigeria or in the diaspora, they are a much greater tribe than we small minority wrapper tying tribe from The Niger Delta.

Man pass man, everyone suppose know their level.

Notwithstanding, it doesn’t stop me from embracing my people, & been a proud Urhobo son, & member of the Urhobo Progressive Union.

Urhobo wado.