A British-Nigerian separatist leader has avoided receiving the death penalty after being sentenced to life in prison for terrorism offences.
Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, was accused of inciting violence in his campaign to establish an independent state for the Igbo people.
The former estate agent was first picked up by Nigerian officials in 2015 after broadcasting on the London-based Radio Biafra station.
During the broadcast, Kanu claimed the movement behind the Indigenous People of Biafra group needed "guns and bullets".
TRENDING
Stories
Videos
Your Say
Judge James Omotosho claimed Kanu's broadcast successfully reignited separatist sentiment.
The Nigerian judge proceeded to point to the deadly attacks committed against security forces and citizens in 2015, when the authorities also carried out the killing of pro-Biafra protesters.
Judge Omotosho said: “His intention was quite clear, as he believed in violence.
“These threats of violence were nothing but terrorist acts, which were duly carried out by his followers.”
Nnamdi Kanu received a life sentence after a judge concluded the death penalty was ‘frowned upon by the international community’
|GETTY
However, the judge stopped short of imposing the death penalty on Kanu.
Despite claiming Kanu was "arrogant" and lacked remorse, Judge Omotosho insisted it was important to “temper justice with mercy” despite Kanu’s “arrogant” behaviour and lack of remorse.
He added: “The death penalty is now being frowned upon by the international community.
“Consequently, in the interests of justice, I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment. Life is sacred.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
There have also been protests about Nnamdi Kanu in London
|GETTY
Kanu was found guilty of seven terrorism-related charges.
He was sentenced in absentia after being thrown out of the Abuja courtroom after accusing the judge of being ignorant of the law.
During the trial, Kanu refused to called witnesses and dismissed his own lawyers.
He continued to claim there were no charges against him.
Donald Trump has been outspoken about the plight of Christians in Nigeria
|GETTY
The legal battle began when Kanu was arrested during a visit to Nigeria in 2015.
However, Kanu subsequently fled the authorities by making his way to Kenya.
Despite claiming extradition was an illegal abduction, Kanu was forced to return to Nigeria in 2021.
While the UK has not proscribed IPOB as a terrorist organisation, asylum claims from members of the separatist group are only considered on a case-by-case basis.
Despite claiming extradition was an illegal abduction, Kanu was forced to return to Nigeria in 2021
|REUTERS
IPOB also maintains it does not incite separatist violence in south-west Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International reported in 2016 that security forces had killed at least 150 members of IPOB during non-violent meetings since August that year.
IPOB can trace its roots back to the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970, when more than one million people were killed during the bloody conflict.
Kanu's lawyers also argued his statements on Radio Biafra were inadmissible in a Nigerian court because they had been broadcast in London.
More From GB News