A court in Nigeria has found separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu guilty of terrorism following a decade-long legal case full of drama.
The court stated it was satisfied that Kanu had made broadcasts to incite violence and killings in his campaign for a separate state in southeastern Nigeria, known as Biafra.
Convicted on seven charges, including terrorism and treason, the court scheduled a future date for sentencing, where Kanu could face the death penalty—a rare outcome in Nigeria.
Kanu, who has consistently denied the accusations and questioned the court's authority to try him, rose to notoriety in 2009 when he launched Radio Biafra advocating for Igbo independence. His movement, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was banned in 2017 and linked with violent unrest.
Judge James Omotosho remarked on Kanu's acknowledgment of his actions to threaten violence, stating that he failed to justify himself during proceedings. Although Kanu has considerable support in his region, local reactions to the verdict have been subdued.
The legal saga surrounding Kanu's case reached new heights after his 2015 arrest and subsequent bail jumping in 2017, with a military raid on his home leading to his flight. His eventual re-arrest following a 2020 court order has only intensified the scrutiny of the Nigerian legal system.
Historical sentiments surrounding Biafra are deep-rooted, dating back to the failed attempt to secede during the brutal civil war of the late 1960s, which left many in the Igbo community feeling marginalized in Nigeria.
