Pinpoint News reports that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday handed a life sentence to the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, bringing an end to a prolonged and closely watched terrorism trial.
Earlier in the day, the court had convicted Kanu on all seven counts relating to terrorism, paving the way for the sentencing that followed hours later.
According to the judge, some of the offences ordinarily attracted the death penalty, but he settled for a lesser punishment after citing biblical teachings on mercy from Matthew chapter twenty three verse twenty three.
During the judgment, the court ruled that Kanu would serve life imprisonment for counts one, four, five and six, while count three attracted twenty years imprisonment and count seven carried five years. All sentences will run concurrently.
Further instructions from the judge directed prison authorities to place Kanu in a facility considered suitable for him, stressing that he should not be held at Kuje Custodial Centre because of concerns about his conduct.
The court also accepted the argument of the prosecution that Kanu used digital devices to incite violence, and ordered that he should not be allowed access to any such device unless under strict monitoring by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Another decision of the court included the forfeiture of the broadcast transmitter Kanu allegedly brought into Nigeria illegally, which the judge ordered to be handed over to the Federal Government.
Kanu’s legal troubles began after his arrest in Kenya under disputed circumstances four years ago and subsequent extradition to Nigeria, where he faced multiple terrorism related charges.
The judgment was delivered without his presence in court after he declined to participate in the proceedings, repeatedly challenging the authority of the court to try him on terrorism charges.
Security operatives earlier removed him from the courtroom following behaviour the judge described as unruly, prompting the decision to proceed with the case in his absence.
In the ruling, Justice Omotosho cited recorded broadcasts on Radio Biafra as acts that encouraged violence, noting that Kanu’s statements often carried directives that promoted unrest and intimidation.
Evidence before the court also showed that the sit at home orders he issued in the South East violated the rights of citizens to free movement and had no legal basis under the constitution.
Testimony presented by the prosecution revealed further that Kanu used his broadcasts to incite attacks on security personnel, which the judge described as preparatory acts of terrorism.
Justice Omotosho concluded that the actions of the IPOB leader amounted to terrorism against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stressing that the life sentence was necessary to protect national security and discourage similar threats.
