Court finds Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism charges, sentences him to life imprisonment as DSS arraigns 7 IPOB leaders
A Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday found the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) guilty of terrorism charges.
The court therefore sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, delivered the judgement on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
He had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts bordering on terrorism.
Each country carried the maximum death penalty, but the court weighed in on the side of life imprisonment.
But Justice Omotosho gave reasons for not sentencing him to death.
He said this was based on the fact that death sentence was going into extinction worldwide and because the Holy books recommends mercy.
This as the Department of State Security (DSS) arraigned seven IPOB leaders in a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Justice James Omotosho, in his judgment on Thursday, held that Kanu is an international terrorist – extending his terrorist activities beyond Nigeria, including directing attacks on the United States Embassy during a broadcast, the judge stated.
Delivering his judgment on count six, Justice Omotosho described Kanu’s directive for Chemical Engineering and Chemistry graduates to manufacture Molotov explosives as a terrorist act.
The judge said, “Making a broadcast in Nigeria against the federal government, where he ordered members of IPOB to manufacture bombs and other explosives, is a terrorist act.
“Mr Kanu called on graduates of chemical engineering and chemistry in a broadcast to make Molotov cocktails. Through Radio Biafra, Kanu carried out many acts of terrorism.”
Justice Omotosho added that Kanu’s actions, including inciting attacks on the American Embassy and the former British High Commissioner, constitute international terrorism.
“Mr Kanu was inciting people to invade the American Embassy and attack the British High Commissioner. This is an act of international terrorism,” the judge said.
On count seven, Kanu was found guilty of illegal importation into Nigeria and concealing a radio transmitter in a container of used household items.
The court noted that, under Section 47 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, the imported transmitter was not declared, and there was no evidence that Radio Biafra is registered with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Justice Omotosho concluded that there was no evidence to the contrary, reinforcing the conviction.
This ruling forms part of a broader judgment in which Kanu was found guilty on all seven terrorism charges.
The DSS has filed terrorism charges against seven IPOB key commanders linked to Simon Ekpa before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the three separate cases, FHC/ABJ/CR/632/2025;FHC/ABJ/CR/633/2025 and FHC/ABJ/CR/634/2025, filed on 19 November, the seven suspects were accused of receiving funds and other material support from Simon Ekpa and other foreign-based members of IPOB.
A key suspect, Ibrahim Ali Larabo, accused of terrorism financing, is an illegal immigrant from the Republic of Niger, operating a Bureau de change (BDC) without a licence. He provided financial services for the Simon Ekpa-led proscribed group, receiving and disbursing large sums of money for IPOB terrorism activities in the southeast.
The suspects were established to be IPOB commanders, arms dealers/couriers, ESN fighters, and foot soldiers funded and directed by Simon Ekpa, who has been convicted of terror-related charges and sentenced to six years imprisonment in Finland.
Also, the DSS has successfully prosecuted Ismaila a.k.a Mai Tangaran, the terrorist who coordinated the 2012 attacks on the Police Headquarters in Bompai, Kano State and other critical facilities, resulting in many injuries.
Ismaila was convicted and sentenced by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The trial, which began in 2017, ended on 18 November when Justice Nwite pronounced his verdict.
Ismaila, one of the leaders of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP), was convicted on the four-count charge brought against him by the DSS under the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013.
Justice Nwite sentenced him to 15 years in relation to count one and 20 years on counts two, three and four. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The DSS had earlier filed cases against two internationally-wanted terror suspects – Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Mamuda) and Abubakar Abba (aka Abu Baara) – whose trial will resume before Justice Nwite (of the Federal High Court in Abuja) on 15 January 2026.
The prosecution of Khalid Al‑Barnawi, accused of being the mastermind of the UN complex bombing on 26 August 2011. Al-Barnawi continues. Barnawi, alongside four others, is being prosecuted for his involvement in the bombing.
Five others are arraigned on a nine-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja in suit FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025 over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
Equally, being prosecuted by the DSS are 10 suspects arrested in connection with attacks in Benue and Plateau states. The suspects were arrested following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to apprehend the perpetrators. Also to be arraigned are the recaptured Abdulazeez Obadaki (aka Bomboy), believed to be an internationally known ISWAP leader, who confessed to having masterminded attacks on St Francis Catholic, Owo and Deeper Life Church, Okene and one Musa Abubakar, a key manufacturer and supplier of arms and ammunition, who was arrested in Plateau State.
The DG-DSS, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, upon assuming office in August 2024, ordered the review of all the cases he inherited.
He also directed that forensic investigations be conducted on these cases to aid diligent prosecution in accordance with Nigerian laws.
