Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to life imprisonment after ten years of trial.

Justice Omotosho delivered the judgment on Thursday, four years after Kanu was arrested in Kenya under contentious circumstances and brought back to Nigeria.

He was later arraigned on seven charges related to terrorism.

The judgment was delivered in Kanu’s absence after the IPOB leader insisted that the decision would not be issued in the terrorism case filed against him by the Federal Government.

Following the commotion that erupted, the presiding judge ordered security operatives to forcefully remove him from the courtroom over what was described as “unruly conduct.”

Justice Omotosho held that several of Kanu’s broadcasts on Radio Biafra amounted to acts of terrorism, noting that his statements and intentions were rooted in violence.

He further ruled that Kanu’s sit-at-home directive across the South-East constituted terrorism, stressing that the order infringed on the freedom of movement of residents in the region.

Justice Omotosho added that the IPOB leader had no constitutional authority to instruct citizens to remain indoors.

According to the judge, evidence presented before the court showed that Kanu engaged in preparatory acts of terrorism through his broadcasts, in which he directed the killing of police and military personnel.

The court held that the IPOB leader was guilty of carrying out acts of terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Kanu was convicted on all seven charges brought against him, despite his plea of not guilty.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Omotosho said Kanu didn’t show any remorse for his actions, adding that, throughout the trial, the IPOB leader “remained arrogant, corky and full of himself without realising the magnitude of his crime and the effects of what he has done against his people in the South-East.”

Having convicted Kanu of all counts, the presiding judge said he opted for life imprisonment instead of the death penalty.

He said: “The death penalty globally is now being frowned upon by the international community, Consequently, in the interest of justice, I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for the said count one, four, five and six.”