Terrorism: Court Sentences Nnamdi Kanu To Life Imprisonment

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Nnamdi Kanu of the proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to life imprisonment upon his conviction on the offence of terrorism.

Justice James Omotosho, while concluding his judgment on Kanu’s trial on Thursday, sentenced him to life imprisonment in relation to counts one, two, four, five and six of the seven-count charge in which he was prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS).

For count three, relating to the offences of belonging to a proscribed terrorist group, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

On count seven, bordering on his unlawful importation of a radio transmitter for the purpose of furthering the clandestine activities of Radio Biafra, which is not registered in Nigeria, the judge sentenced him to five years imprisonment without an option of fine.

The judge, who noted that Kanu had been unruly all through the trial, said the law allowed the court to sentence him to death for the terrorism offences, but that he (the judge) as a Christian, chose to be merciful to the defendant.

Justice Omotosho ordered that the defendant be kept in protective custody in any part of the country, but not in Kuje prison, Abuja, and that the radio transmitter be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji