Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has described Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, as an “international terrorist” following allegations that he threatened to bomb the United States Embassy and target former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.
The declaration was made on Thursday while Justice Omotosho was ruling on count six of the charges filed against Kanu.
“The defendant is not only a confirmed local terrorist, but I hold, without hesitation, that he is an international terrorist, flowing from his threat to attack the British High Commission and the American Embassy as well as his incitement against the British High Commissioner to Nigeria at the time Catriona Laing, a ‘known woman of peace’,” the judge stated.
Justice Omotosho said that Kanu’s directive in a broadcast urging graduates of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry to produce Molotov cocktails amounted to an act of terrorism.
Referencing Kanu’s October 21, 2020 broadcast, the judge noted that the IPOB leader called on his followers “to go to the bush” and attack any military or police convoy they encountered, describing security operatives as enemies who “also bleed.”
Justice Omotosho quoted Kanu as saying, “Radio Baifra is now in the hands of the enemy of our freedom. I don’t know how much they paid for it, but I know that Britain spent about 4.8 billion pounds a few days ago to suppress what is happening. That is what they have done. I told you a while back that Britain was now entitled to what is happening in the zoo, and you thought that it was a joke. They have now come with their clampdown, but they are not going to succeed. Radio Biafra belongs to us, but why is it not playing our programme right now?”
He added that Kanu further instructed, “I am telling you people to go to the bush. Wherever you see a military convoy, you attack them. Whenever you see a police convoy, attack them. They are human beings and they also bleed. Any person with a police uniform or any army uniform is your enemy.”
The judge explained that such statements, particularly those targeting internationally protected persons such as ambassadors and high commissioners, constitute offences that carry a life sentence.
Justice Omotosho further noted, “The High Commissioner is an international protected person, being the representative of the British government in Nigeria, as well as other staff of High Commission and Embassy of the United States of America. Leaving the defendant to continue his terrorist activities would have led to an international incident involving Nigeria and other foreign nations, who are good partners with Nigeria.
“The question to ask again is whether bombing or attacking embassies of High Commissions constitutes an action consistent with agitation for self-determination? Again, the answer is no. All these acts go to show the criminal tendency of the defendant, as well as show concrete proof of his terrorist acts.”
He concluded that the prosecution had successfully proven its case against Kanu, leading to his conviction.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his rearrest abroad in June 2021 and his subsequent return to Nigeria to face charges including terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement.
His trial has faced multiple adjournments, with his legal team arguing that his extraordinary rendition and prolonged detention violate both Nigerian and international legal standards.
