FEDERAL HIGH COURT ORDERS SPECIAL CUSTODY CONDITIONS FOR NNAMDI KANU, HANDS LIFE SENTENCE ON MULTIPLE COUNTS

The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued strict custodial directives for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, while delivering a landmark judgment that sentenced him to life imprisonment on several terrorism-related charges.

In a decision that underscored both security concerns and the sensitivity of the case, the presiding judge ruled that Kanu must be held in a facility deemed suitable for his custody, stressing that placement in the Kuje Correctional Centre is not viable given its history of repeated jailbreaks. The court accepted the argument earlier advanced by the prosecution that Kuje posed significant security risks considering previous breaches.

The judge further ordered that Kanu should not have access to any digital device. In circumstances where digital access becomes necessary, such access must be strictly monitored under the supervision of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). The court added that he is to be kept under protective custody in any secure correctional facility across the country, depending on assessments made by the relevant authorities.

Additionally, the court directed that Kanu’s transmitter be handed over to the Federal Government as part of the custodial and security measures surrounding his incarceration.

On sentencing, the court delivered the following terms:

Counts 1, 4, 5, and 6: Life imprisonment (substituted for the death penalty)

Count 3: 20 years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine

Count 7: 5 years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine

The judge specified that all prison terms will run concurrently.

The ruling marks one of the most significant judicial decisions in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts, setting the stage for heightened security protocols surrounding the custody of one of the country’s most controversial separatist figures.