Nigeria convicts separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu on ‘terrorism’ charges

Kanu’s Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wants a swathe of the southeast, the homeland of the Igbo taste group, to divided from Nigeria.

A Nigerian tribunal has convicted separatist person Nnamdi Kanu connected charges related to “terrorism” aft a years-long trial.

In his ruling connected Thursday, Nigerian Judge James Omotosho said prosecutors proved that Kanu’s broadcasts and orders to his now-banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) radical incited deadly attacks connected information forces and citizens successful the southeast.

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The unit was portion of his propulsion for an autarkic Biafra authorities for the taste Igbo-dominated region.

“His volition was rather clear, arsenic helium believed successful violence. These threats of unit were thing but violent acts,” Omotosho said.

Kanu, who has been successful custody since his arguable re-arrest successful Kenya successful 2021, shouted angrily successful objection to the proceedings and was ejected from tribunal up of the ruling. He had argued that his unlawful extradition from Kenya undermined immoderate accidental of a just trial.

Kanu pleaded not guilty successful 2021 to 7 charges that included “terrorism”, treason and perpetuating falsehoods against Nigeria’s erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kanu was archetypal arrested successful 2015, but fled the state portion connected bail. His societal media posts during his lack and his Radio Biafra broadcasts outraged the government, which said they encouraged attacks connected information forces.

Ultimately, information agents brought Kanu to tribunal successful Abuja successful June 2021 aft detaining him successful Kenya, wherever his lawyer alleged helium was mistreated. Kenya has denied involvement.

In October 2021, Kanu’s lawyers argued that his statements connected Radio Biafra shouldn’t beryllium admissible successful a Nigerian tribunal since they were made successful London.

“I can’t spot however idiosyncratic would marque a connection successful London and it becomes a triable offence successful this country,” Kanu’s lawyer Ifeanyi Ejiofor told reporters astatine the time.

Kanu, a dual Nigerian-British citizen, started Radio Biafra – an obscure, London-based vigor presumption – successful 2009 aft helium near Nigeria to survey economics and authorities astatine the London Metropolitan University.

In one broadcast, Kanu said: “We person 1 happening successful common, each of america that judge successful Biafra, 1 happening we person successful common, a pathological hatred for Nigeria. I cannot statesman to enactment into words however overmuch I hatred Nigeria.”

IPOB wants a swathe of the southeast, the homeland of the Igbo taste group, to divided from Nigeria. An effort to secede successful 1967 arsenic the Republic of Biafra triggered a three-year civilian warfare that killed much than 1 cardinal people.