A federal high court in Abuja has convicted the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, on all seven counts of terrorism preferred against him by the federal government.

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, held that the prosecution was able to prove all the allegations against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt since he failed and “deliberately refused” to counter the evidence of the prosecution team.

“The defendant knew what he was doing while making these violent threats. The defendant was also bent on achieving his objective with violence and did not mind if his own people died,” the judge said.

He cited a video clip capturing Mr Kanu calling for violence in Nigeria to actualise Biafra’s independence during the Third World Igbo Congress in Los Angeles, the United States.

“Most of the participants were quite alarmed that they asked him if he had considered the option of peaceful dialogue, to which the defendant was adamant,” Mr Omotosho said.

“His words were not mere words,” as many police officers and security officers were killed, and several police stations were burnt down in Lagos as a result of his incitement.

The judge said even though not all the destruction could be blamed on Mr Kanu, “there is no doubt the incitement contributed to the killing of security operatives and destruction of police stations”.

“The number of police officers that were killed was 128; military officers were 37, and other security officers were 10. Police stations destroyed numbered 164, while INEC offices were destroyed in nine locations. This shows the extent of damage caused by the defendants’ inciting statement,” he said.

The judge also said, “His intention was clear. The defendant had an evil intention to wreak havoc on the people and government of Nigeria.”

“He turned himself into a tyrant who can kill at will. The defendant cannot be allowed to remain in a sane human society,” the judge said.

He also ruled that Mr Kanu can be safely described as “an international terrorist” with his directive to people to attack foreign embassies in Nigeria and kill the British High Commissioner.

Mr Omotosho quoted excerpts from several of Mr Kanu’s broadcasts, including the one in which he spoke on Mondays in the South-east on 30 May 2021.

He was finally sentenced Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment.