…Vows to appeal against sentence, says Ejimakor
After ten years in detention, leader of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu on Thursday bagged life sentence.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja convicted Kanu in all the seven counts terrorism charges brought against him by the Department of State Services (,DSS),
Trial court judge, Justice James Omotosho further ordered that the convict should serve his life sentence in a secured and safe custodial custody to be determined by Federal government.
After the court convicted Kanu who was not inside the court room , the judge listened to plea for mercy from a member of the House of Representatives Hon. Obi Aguocha on behalf of Kanu , and stood the matter down for judgement.
When the Court resumed , the judge recalled that the defendant has been convicted and that the court would only have to be merciful to him and minded that the offences carried death sentences .
He noted that Kanu has not shown remorse and has become arrogant although he is not really persuaded but must temper mercy with justice”
Citing the holy book and said the Lord himself is merciful and on that note show mercy to the convict.
He said death penalty has been frown at and sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on count 1,2,,4 ,5 and 6. In respect of count 3 he sentenced him to 20 years in prison and in count 7 to 5 years in prison and the sentence shall run concurrently.
He said on the charges of terrorism and unruly behavior and that it ishas been his violence and he has no hesitation in coming to the conclusion that the tendency of violence has not left him.
The judge ordered that putting him in kuje will not be appropriate, noting that the convict made used of computer devices and in committing all the atrocities and that the convict should not have access to any mobile device.
The judge said Kanu deserves protective custody and ordered that he should be kept in any custodial custody in any party of the country that is befitting to him.
Earlier, while delivering judgement in Kanu’s trial which began in 2015, but was assigned to Justice James Omotosho this year after the Supreme Court remitted the case back to Federal High Court for fresh trial, justice Omotosho had traced the history of the case.
The judge said, he found the defendant – Kanu guilty on all the counts in the charge which the defendant arrogantly waved his right to defend despite several adjournments by the court for him to open his defence.
Justice Omotosho held that the prosecuting agency the Department of State Services (DSS)’s lawyer Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) had led sufficient credible evidences that established its case against Kanu.
The judge said the court has no option than to believe the evidences as led by the prosecution since the defendant failed to enter his defence, but chose to gamble by resting his case on that of the prosecution.
“It is very clear from evidences placed before the court that the defendant (Nnamdi Kanu) violated sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Prohibition and Prevention Act 2013 which carries death sentence, the judge said.
The judge also held that Nnamdi Kanu breached the terrorism law in his several broadcasts in which he threatened the corporate existence of Nigeria and promoted the break away of the South East region from Nigeria to form Biafra nation.
According to the court , Kanu was quoted to have made it clear in one of the broadcasts that “Somalia will be a paradise unless the Biafra nation is granted,”
In one of the interviews he granted Sahara Television, the convict was said that “nothing will be living in a zoo called Nigeria by the time he executed his secession threat.”
He also said that the only language people in the zoo (Nigeria) understand is violence and will be given to them.
In the interview, Kanu who claimed to be founder and Director of Radio and Television of Biafra made a broadcast to the effect that the Army of Nigeria will die. Everything call Nigeria will perish in Biafra.”
In the judgement the judge, also made reference to Igbo World Congress in the United States of America, where Kanu was quoted to have stated at the occasion that “there will be blood boom. America will give us guns and bullets. We are ready to perish unless they give us Biafra.”
Justice Omotosho in the judgment said that the allegations against Kanu were proved beyond reasonable doubt going by avalanches of exhibits tendered against him.
The Judge held that the convict did not help the matter when he bluntly refused to enter defense in the charges against him.
According to the Judge, Kanu knew what he was doing while making the reckless violent statements in his numerous broadcast.
However, Kanu legal consultant Alloy Ejimakor who was unhappy about the sentences said Kanu will appeal the judgement. He claimed it was a political trial and that the judge erred in law.