Life Imprisonment: "We Are Heading to Appeal" Nnamdi Kanu Reacts to Court Judgement

By: Israel Adeleke

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that, the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, reacting to the life imprisonment handed down to him by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, has declared his intention to challenge the verdict at the appellate court.

OTN News further reports as gathered that, Kanu's former lawyer and legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, disclosed this while speaking to news men shortly after the judgement was passed.

OTN News learnt that Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five, and six, alongside a 20-year jail term on count three and an additional five years on count seven, all without an option of fine, instead of the death penalty.

The Count one: This count alleges that Nnamdi Kanu, as the leader of IPOB, on diverse dates in 2014 and 2015 in London, “did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu and other areas… preparations made by you and others now at large for states in the South-East and South-South zones and other communities in Kogi and Benue States to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to constituting same into the Republic of Biafra and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(c) of the Criminal Code Act.”

Count two: This count alleges that on or about the 28th April, 2015, in London, Kanu “did broadcast on Radio Biafra monitored in Enugu… referred to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act.”

Count three: This count alleges that between March and April 2015, Kanu “imported into Nigeria and kept in Ubulusiuzor in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra state… a Radio transmitter known as TRAM 50L concealed in a container of used household which you declared as used household items and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 47 (2) of the Criminal Code of Act.”

Count four: This count alleges that between 2018 and 2021, Kanu “professed to be a member of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16 Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”

Count five: This count alleges that on the 22nd of April, 2021, in London, Kanu “did an act of terrorism in that you incite the other members (followers) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB}, a proscribed organisation in Nigeria, to look for security personnel, their family members through a Radio Biafra on 102.1FM… and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (h) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act.”

Count six: This count alleges that on the 16th of May, 2021, in London, Kanu “did commit an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by making a broadcast that “In 2 weeks’ time, what will happen will shake the world, people will die, the whole world will stand still, mark my word” and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”

Count seven: This count alleges that on the 31st of May, 2021, in London, Kanu “did an act in furtherance of an act of terrorism by issuing a deadly threat that anyone who flouted your sit-at-home order should “write his/her will,” as a result banks, schools, markets, shopping malls, fuel stations were not opened for businesses and vehicular movements grounded and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) (b) of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act, 2013.”

Reacting to the judgement, Ejimakor, said the IPOB leader had rejected the ruling and instructed his team to proceed immediately on appeal.

“We are heading to appeal,” Ejimakor stated, adding that the legal team would take all necessary steps to overturn the stiff sentences.