10 Years Of Trial, Nigerian Separatist Leader Nyamdi Kanu Was Finally Sentenced To Life In Prison

JAKARTA - Nigerian court on Thursday, November 20 sentenced separatist leader Nyamdi Kanu to life in prison, 58 years, on charges of terrorism activity.

Kanu founded the Biafra Indigenous Society (IPOB), which has been accused of terrorism and murder in eastern Nigeria.

"The right to determine your own destiny is a political right. Every self-determination that is not carried out in accordance with the Nigerian constitution is illegal," Judge James Omotosho said in court, quoted by AFP.

This verdict is different from the demands of the prosecutor who asked the judge to sentence the Biafra activist to death.

Quoting DW, Judge James Omotosho said Nnamdi Kanu, who has long fought for the division of Nigeria, has committed a number of crimes that are a form of terrorism.

Nyamdi Kanu during the trial had opposed his lawyer, opposed his lawyer's request for guarantees, and repeatedly shouted in front of the judge, which led the judge to demand his release.

Kanu is known to have called for the formation of an independent state from Nigeria.

He has also attempted to revive Biafra, an area that broke away from Nigeria between 1967-1970. The self-isolation effort during that period sparked civil war in Nigeria, causing at least 3 million people to die.

Kanu was arrested again in 2021 and brought back from Kenya after initially not attending a court that has been in absence since 2015. About 10 years later the verdict was given to Kanu.