Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has jailed the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on a seven-count charge of terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.
Justice Omotosho gave the ruling on Thursday, having found Kanu guilty on all counts of threatening and killing security operatives, burning properties, concealment and smuggling an unregistered radio transmitter.
The Federal Government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, however urged the court to convict Kanu allowed under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Awomolo argued that the law prescribes the death penalty for several of the offences Kanu committed.
He said, “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,” Awomolo submitted.
“With all sense of humility, I say, sir, as a prosecutor, that this court has no discretion, in that regard, and that the only sentence that your lawsuit will impose for counts one, two, four, five, and six is a death sentence.
“Because this court has the power to do so, and with respect must do so. The language of the act is clear, and the court is also applying it strictly without deviation.”
Awomolo insisted that Kanu’s incitement led to the death of several security operatives and the destruction of public infrastructure, alleging that both the IPOB and the Eastern Security Network, ESN, which he identified as its armed wing, took steps to destabilise the country.
He said imposing the maximum sentence on the defendant was the only way to give justice to victims of Kanu’s terrorist acts, adding that whereas the counts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of the charge prescribed the death sentence, count 3 attracts 20 years imprisonment, while the punishment for the offence in count 7 is a five-year jail term.
“My lord should consider the nature and gravity of acts of terrorism committed by the convicts which were against innocent Nigerians that reside in the South East,” he added.
He accused Kanu of not being remorseful or penitent for the offence, adding that his conduct before the court was marked by arrogance.
The FG also urged the court to order the forfeiture of all the broadcast equipment seized from Kanu, as well as restrict him from having access to digital devices or internet facilities wherever he would be kept to serve the sentence.
Awomolo pleaded that for Kanu’s safety, he should not be kept at the Kuje prison in Abuja which he said suffered jail breaks in the past.
