Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has described the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), 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, Justice Omotosho stated, “‘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 held that the prosecution had proved the counts against Kanu and consequently convicted him.
The PUNCH
