Dare Babalola
Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment.
Justice Omotosho hands Kanu life imprisonment on counts 1, 4, 5, and 6; sparing him death penalty.
The trial judge also sentenced the IPOB leader to 20 years imprisonment and five years imprisonment on Count Seven, with no option of fine.
The sentence will run concurrently according to Justice Omotoso.
Delivering judgment, he said, “I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for counts one, four, five, and six, instead of death sentence.
“With respect to Count Three, he is hereby sentenced to 20 years imprisonment without no option of fine.
“For Count Seven, he is sentenced to five years imprisonment without no option of fine. To extend the mercy, I hereby order that the sentence shall run concurrently.”
Earlier, the Federal Government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Awomolo reminded the court that the law mandates a death sentence for several of the offences Kanu was convicted of.
“My Lord, consequent upon the conviction, nothing further remains but the lawful imposition of sentence. The punishment prescribed for the offences in Counts One, Two, Four, Five and Six, pursuant to Section 12H of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013, is death.
“With all sense of humility, I say as a prosecutor that this court has no discretion in that regard. The only sentence Your Lordship can impose for Counts One, Two, Four, Five and Six is death, because the law empowers you to do so, and we expect that you will, Awomolo submitted.
Justice Omotoso is expected to announce the sentencing decision after considering the submissions of both parties.
