Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has described the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, as an “international terrorist” over his alleged threats to bomb the United States Embassy and attack a former British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing.
The judge made the pronouncement on Thursday while delivering judgment on count six of the charges before the court.
“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’,” he said.
Justice Omotosho held that Kanu’s call, in a broadcast, directing graduates of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry to manufacture Molotov cocktails, amounted to an act of terrorism.
Quoting one of Kanu’s broadcasts delivered on October 21, 2020, the judge said the IPOB leader urged his followers “to go to the bush” and attack any military or police convoy they saw, adding that he described security personnel as enemies who “also bleed.”
Justice Omotosho stated, “In a broadcast of 21st October 2020, the defendant stated, and I quote, ‘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?’
The defendant also stated, “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.”
According to him, such statements, especially those targeting international protected persons such as ambassadors and high commissioners, fall under offences punishable by life imprisonment.
Justice Omotosho said, “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 that the criminal tendency of the defendant, as well as show concrete proof of his terrorist acts.”
Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution had proved the counts against Kanu and consequently convicted him.
Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since June 2021, when he was rearrested abroad and brought back to Nigeria to face charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony and incitement.
His trial has recorded multiple adjournments, while his lawyers continue to argue that his extraordinary rendition and long detention violate both domestic and international law.
