Kanu was first arrested in Lagos in 2015 and faced multiple trials before four different judges. The case was complicated when he fled Nigeria in 2017 following a military raid on his family home in Abia State. He was rearrested in Kenya in 2021 and returned to Nigeria to continue the trial.
Justice Omotosho found Kanu guilty on all charges, including acts of terrorism against the Nigerian state and intimidation through broadcasts and enforcement of sit-at-home orders in the southeast. The judge described Kanu as an "international terrorist," rejecting his claim of being a freedom fighter.
Kanu received life imprisonment for four counts, 20 years for another, and five years for the final charge, with the sentences running concurrently. The judge noted that while the crimes merited the death penalty, he opted for life imprisonment, citing Christian teachings and global opposition to capital punishment.
Due to Kanu’s violent behavior during the trial, the judge ordered that he be placed in protective custody and barred from accessing electronic devices, which will be monitored by the Office of the National Security Adviser. Items recovered from Kanu, including a smuggled radio transmitter, were forfeited to the government.
Throughout the trial, Kanu frequently disrupted proceedings, leading the court to deliver judgment in his absence. He challenged the court’s jurisdiction over one count, arguing it was based on a repealed law, but the court dismissed the objection.
Prosecution lawyer Adegboyega Awomolo presented video evidence showing Kanu inciting violence, resulting in the deaths of security personnel and property destruction. Awomolo sought the death penalty, but the court chose life imprisonment, balancing justice with mercy.
The judge emphasized that Kanu showed no remorse and remained arrogant, but he extended mercy based on religious and humanitarian considerations. Kanu will not serve his sentence in Kuje prison due to security concerns and will instead be held in a high-security facility.
The decade-long trial, which involved multiple appeals up to the Supreme Court, has now concluded.