I watched the video of a traditional ruler from Igboland, Eze Ogbunechendo of Ezema Kingdom, HRM Igwe Lawrence Okolie Agbuzu OON, CFR, making three controversial statements at the first National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit held in Abuja last Tuesday.

The first was his contention that there was nothing like the Southern Nigeria Traditional Council, which the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, its chairman, had said there was. To further contradict Igwe Agbuzu, the Ooni’s assertion was corroborated by another Igbo monarch, the Eze Aro IX, Dr. Eberechukwu Kanu Oji, who said the Southern Nigeria Traditional Council was actually inaugurated sometime ago in Oyo state with him, Eberechukwu, as its Publicity Secretary.

Whether or not the council exists is not my beef here, but I tend to support the views of Igwe Agbuzu that the entirety of the council – Northern, Southern, and National – should be democratised to reflect the present realities of agitations against marginalization of minority groups and the strident call for power-sharing in all its ramifications – political, economic, social, cultural, name it!

Said Agbuzu: “Now, again, they were talking about the Southern Traditional Rulers Committee on Health, and the eminent Professor Mohammed Pate was saying that this will become an annual event—what we are doing today—if I heard him correctly. The truth of the matter is that there is nothing like a Southern Traditional Rulers Council. If you come here and give money to people on that basis, it is not correct.

“The South is not the North. We have our system. We need unity in diversity. So, if you want to deal with us, deal with us in the Southeast. If you have resources for us, give it to us. Don’t give it to people who come and say they represent a traditional rulers council. Democracy is a representative government, and anybody who goes to present himself without his people is not democratic or traditional. So, get it right.”

Well said! Responding, however, the Eze Aro IX described the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council as “a movement—a journey—comprising members from across the entire southern part of Nigeria. He (Ooni) is our chairman. We have the co-chair here from the Southeast and we have eminent traditional rulers from across the southern parts of Nigeria.

“We have come together to advance the cause of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council. The President was part of the inauguration of the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council. It happened in Oyo, and we had representatives from the press, the government, and stakeholders at that inauguration. Since that inauguration, the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council has been active.

“We have had our AGM, which took place in Ogun State. We have undertaken several activities together. So, please, for the purposes of clearing any doubts, the Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council exists. The Southern Nigerian Traditional Rulers Council is united, with traditional rulers and royal fathers from across the entire southern Nigeria—all represented here.”

Nigeria’s Traditional Council: A house divided?

Chairman of the disputed Southern Nigeria Traditional Council and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, nailed it with a take-it or leave-it statement: “The Southern Traditional Rulers Council is very optional. You don’t need to join us if you don’t want to, but it is a force—a formidable force—among traditional institutions for us to come together…” Who will hear that and not tremble?

But why should the National Council of Traditional Rulers be co-chaired only by the Sultan of Sokoto and the Ooni of Ife? The chairmanship should rotate beyond these two important traditional rulers. Maybe a zonal structure of six geo-political groups will be a starting point. But unknown to him, Igwe Agbuzu must have hurt the sensitivity and sensibilities of some of his colleagues from the North when he said whereas a monolithic council for that part of the country might be okay, a similar configuration for the South is not!

Who told him all traditional rulers from the North fancy to be under the Sultan’s beck-and-call? Just like the Igwe seeks the “liberation” of his South-east or Igboland from Yoruba/Ooni domination, so also do we have traditional rulers from the North who resent the Sultan’s domination and desire to break loose from it. So, let the council be democratised totally and completely; no half-measures.

Igwe Agbuzu also pleaded passionately for the IPOB secessionist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, but he goofed in that his plea is somehow belated. It should have come when Kanu’s fate was not yet decided and he was still a detainee. But he no longer is!

Kanu has been tried by a court of competent jurisdiction of charges that were read to him in open court and in a language which he clearly understood. He was given: the ample opportunity to defend himself and he did. We saw him even change defence counsel and, on one occasion, he elected to take over his own defence. Having had his day in court, as they say, he was found guilty as charged and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

As we speak, and as the Igwe rightly mentioned, Kanu is serving his prison term in Sokoto prisons. He is now a prisoner and not a detainee. And the processes of releasing or granting reprieve to a prisoner differs from those of a detainee.

Was President Tinubu impressed?

The third controversial statement made by Igwe Agbuzu, which drew prolonged laughter from his audience that, incidentally, included President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was his comparing Nnamdi Kanu with Yoruba self-determination nationalist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho. Saying that those of them in the south-east see Igboho as the counterpart of Nnamdi Kanu, he added that it grieved his heart to see Igboho walk free while Kanu is in prison.

Said he: “I listened to the opening address by His Imperial Majesty (the Ooni), and he was gingering all of us to work as a family, to work as a team, and to see Nigeria as one. This is good. But when you look at it, this same Imperial Majesty is arranging to confer a very high honour on Sunday Igboho who, in my own part of Nigeria and the Southeast, we see as a counterpart of Nnamdi Kanu.”

The whole hall, still managing to keep itself under control, erupted when he said, speaking directly to Mr. President: “Bring this man (Kanu) out. If we don’t want him in Nigeria, return him to Kenya or London where they took him from.” The cameras caught the president sprawling on his sofa soaked with laughter!

But is it as easy as that? And is the comparison between Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu not akin to comparing sleep with death and oranges with apples?

Dr. Sunday Dare, Presidential adviser on Media and Public Communication, while offering an explanation, stated that the methods adopted by both men and their impacts differed significantly. While Kanu’s actions involved armed rebellion, Igboho’s only focused on peaceful community defence against external threats.

For the sake of emphasis, Dare stated quite emphatically that there is “no basis for comparison” between Igboho and Kanu. Their actions, methods and consequences were fundamentally different. While Kanu crossed into armed rebellion and violent enforcement of his illegal, disruptive and destructive sit-at-home orders, Igboho “remained largely defensive and localised against perceived external threat, without the same level of state-targeted insurgency.”

Igboho’s activism was centred on defending communities in the south-west against criminal activities attributed to killer-herdsmen, alongside peaceful agitation for a Yoruba nation. Kanu, however, went violent with his own agitation, which “included the enforcement of sit-at-home orders (often through threats and violence), resulting in numerous deaths (reports cite over 700 fatalities linked to enforcement clashes and defiance killings).

“Other inimical activities (of Kanu) include attack on security forces, destruction of public infrastructure, and the formation of armed groups like the Eastern Security Network (ESN). Kanu’s rhetoric and actions escalated to calls that many viewed as inciting violence against the state and even against his own people in the southeast who defied (his) orders.”

In simple grammar: Kanu crossed the line; Igboho did not!

Too early to pardon Nnamdi Kanu

My own views on this matter tally with those of Dr. Dare. Responding earlier to a post on the same issue on a platform to which I belong, I had argued thus:

“Kanu and Igboho are not the same kettle of fish. Igboho did not announce sit-at-home in the southwest. He did not organise his own army to kill and maim security agents and ordinary people. He did not declare secession. He was only interested in protecting his people against Fulani terrorism. The same Fulani terrorists have been so declared as terrorists by the United States (and the international community).

“Igboho did not constitute himself into an affront to constituted authority. He respected Yoruba leaders and traditional institutions. He subjugated himself under control and did not pose as Lord of the Manor like Kanu did. He did not abuse judges. He did not denigrate the judiciary. He did not abuse everyone. He did not flex muscles with the powers-that-be but went on his belly before Yoruba traditional rulers begging for assistance.

“Igboho placed himself under control. Kanu puts himself outside of it. Igboho can be restrained. Kanu cannot. Igboho never advocated for the destruction of the southeast or Igbo land. Kanu advocated for the destruction of the southwest and Yorubaland. Kanu showed unmitigated hatred for the Yoruba both in speech and action. Igboho did not exhibit any such animosity towards the Igbo. I can go on and on!

“Therefore, Kanu must pay for the innocent lives he wasted. He must also pay for the destruction of lives and properties during #ENDSARS protests in Lagos. It is unfortunate that rather than acknowledge the truth, those pleading for Kanu are peddling cheap sentiments. It won’t work. But if it does, a dangerous precedent will be set. And when the Southwest explodes in retaliation, may the good Lord help us!

“Up till now, Kanu is still laying claim to controlling the southeast, belching out orders from his prison room. He pretends to still wield power, enforcing, elongating, reviewing and cancelling sit-at-home orders in the southeast. But he lied! It was Gov. Charles Soludo’s action that has put an end to sit-at-home in the southeast, if truly it has now ended. Kanu is merely trying to reap where he did not sow. He lays claim to the authority and powers he did not possess. He is too full of himself; self-conceited and too self-opinionated.

“Arrogant! Rude! Power drunk! Closet dictator! Who can restrain him and his rag-tag army in the entire southeast? He has no respect for anyone there. Who has he not abused there? Kanu rightly belongs where he is now – prison. Alternatively, a zoo!”

I seriously believe so! Time to grant Kanu reprieve, if at all, is not now. He should be allowed time to mature in prison. Unleashing him on civilised society at this point in time may be dangerous. Counter-productive, too! Time may temper him; so maybe we can return to review his case after 10, 15 or 20 years.

Good behaviour while in prison is also a key determinant of whether or not reprieve will be granted. And reprieve must never be allowed to trump justice. Justice demands that Kanu should sufficiently atone for his many crimes before he ever sees the light of day again. Otherwise, society suffers double jeopardy – which will be unfair to the countless number of victims of Kanu’s uncountable shenanigans!

*Bolawole (turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533), former Editor of PUNCH newspapers, Chairman of its Editorial Board and Deputy Editor-in-chief, was also the Managing Director/ Editor-in-chief of the Westerner newsmagazine. He writes the “ON THE LORD’S DAY” column in the Sunday Tribune and “TREASURES” column in the New Telegraph newspapers. He is also a public affairs analyst on radio and television.

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In the last five years in the five South Eastern states of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi, Mondays have been declared sit-at-home days, meaning a no-work day. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in 2021, ordered that Mondays be observed as a no-work-day in those states in solidarity with their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was arrested in Kenya, and ferried back home to face prosecution over his agitation for the creation of Biafra Republic out of Nigeria.

The sit-at-home protests, enforced by IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network, since 2021, has transformed from a symbolic act of dissent into a protracted crisis, with devastating socio-economic and security consequences for the region. There are reports that more than 776 lives have been lost to the activities of unknown gunmen during these times. Imo and Anambra states hold the record for more than half of these deaths. Besides this, the region has suffered staggering losses, including N7.6 trillion in economic damages and systemic disruptions to education, governance, and livelihoods.

Initially rooted in legitimate grievances over marginalisation and the detention of Kanu, the movement has been hijacked by violence, criminality, and internal fragmentation, eroding public support and deepening instability. Small businesses, according to SBM Intelligence, lost about N4.6 trillion every year since its commencement, while transport companies lose between N10 billion and N13 billion every Monday when violent groups enforce the shutdown. These losses stem from widespread market closures, disrupted supply chains, and the inability of businesses, particularly SMEs, to operate effectively. The impact is evident in both urban and rural areas. Large commercial hubs like Onitsha Main Market, one of Africa’s largest, has been repeatedly forced to close, resulting in missed transactions and financial strain for traders and consumers.

Even with the absence of Nnamdi Kanu, Simon Ekpa, became the self-styled second in command, and from his base in Poland, continued to direct the enforcement of the sit-at-home order. His eventual arrest and prosecution outside the shores of the country did not bring an end to the sit-at-home, as many of the local enforcers had succeeded in instilling fear into the minds of the locals back home. Any trader that tries to open their stall on Mondays for business was dealt with. Some were killed, while others had their businesses destroyed. There seemed to be little or nothing many of the state governors in the region could do, as most of them were sympathetic to the cause of Kanu. But after more than two years and with the crisis still dragging, some state governors now feel that the time is ripe to nip the crisis in the bud. The economic toll it is having on their states’ economies is enormous and the idea is no longer sustainable.

However, they are having a tough time convincing their people on the need to shelve the strikes and bring things back to normal. States like Enugu, Ebonyi, and Abia are doing all within their power to put a stop to the sit-at-home order. Peter Mbah, the Governor of Enugu state, imposed penalties for compliance with the sit-at-home order, which helped bring some normalcy back to Enugu. He ensured that civil servants that did not show up for work on Mondays went home with a pay cut at the end of the month; provided security for market men and women that are willing to work on Mondays, whilst also sealing shops that remained closed, all in a bid to resuscitate economic activities by showing that it was safe and mandatory to return to normal Monday routines.

The proponents of the order should realise by now that they have done more harm than good with the directive, and a great damage to the economy of the region.

In Abia State, Governor Alex Otti implemented a combination of strong security measures and public engagement to reduce the impact of the Monday sit-at-home order. He directed all security agencies to deploy at all flashpoints and conduct regular patrols to protect law-abiding citizens and deter any enforcer of the order. He also engaged directly with various stakeholders in the state including IPOB and community leaders on why the sit-at-home order should be discarded, emphasising that it has no legal backing and that it is economically destructive. Again, civil servants were lured back to work and those who failed to show had their salaries deducted.

In Ebonyi State, both the former Governor, Dave Umahi and the current Governor, Francis Nwifuru took the fight to militant groups by directing security agents to deal with miscreants fomenting trouble in the state. Umahi, now Minister of Works, established the Ebubeagu Security outfit to maintain daily patrols to prevent harassment of citizens by IPOB enforcers. This has led to improved security across the state as he charged the Nigerian Army to intensify efforts to end the order, whilst approving a reward system to boost the morale of security personnel.

To address the root causes of youth restiveness, his administration has launched vocational training and entrepreneurship support programmes to create sustainable jobs within the state.

On his part, the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, in an attempt to kick-start the economy of the state, directed an end to the sit-at-home order few weeks ago. However, traders at the Onitsha Main Market felt otherwise. On Monday last week, majority of them stayed away from their stalls and a shocked Soludo ordered the closure of the market for one week. Prior, he ensured that he addressed the concerns of the traders by meeting Nnamdi Kanu in prison, who assured him that he did not order the sit-at-home. Again, he said that 150 security men were posted to the market to ensure that hoodlums did not attack any trader that chooses to open for business. In addition, Soludo noted that the Onitsha Main Market was opened throughout the Christmas and New Year festivities without any incident. He wondered what went wrong and why the traders started closing their stalls again after the New Year. ‘’If they are willing to listen to the proscribed IPOB not to work on Monday, I will add another six days to it to make it one week so that they could have adequate rest.’’ It was at this point that all hell broke loose. Rather than abide with the directives of the Governors, the traders took to the streets to protest what they termed forced closure of the market and dared Soludo to do his worst.

The following day, the traders again took their protest to the Onitsha Head bridge, where they blocked vehicular movements of those travelling in and out of the state. It took the intervention of the police led by the Anambra Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, to disperse the traders from the bridge.

Soludo has now threatened to shut down the market completely if the traders remain recalcitrant, saying that he could revoke the market title and convert the space to a public school.

If there is one person that should know more about the economic implication of the Monday’s market closure, it should be Soludo. A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Soludo has told whoever cared to listen that the economy of the state is bleeding and that drastic measures had to be taken to get the economy back on track.

Indeed, the extensive economic haemorrhage of the aforementioned states is multiplied by the fact that most people in the Southeast operate in the informal sector as traders, shop owners, artisans, craftsmen, transporters, industrialists, wholesalers, and retailers of motley merchandise. Shutting down the economic space and closing schools in the entire zone has become counterproductive to whatever point IPOB may be making. On several occasions, students have had to miss external examinations fixed for Mondays as nothing could be done to salvage the situation. Many students in the zone have lost countless schooling days. This has created significant educational disadvantage for an entire generation, jeopardising their future and long-term development of the region.

Access to healthcare and other essential services have also become perilous on the enforced lockdown day. Apart from that, the sit-at-home order is also indicative of a larger erosion of political authority and serial failure of the State to restore law, order, and security. If non-state actors can order the closure of markets throughout the region and state governors are having a tough time reversing such directives, it goes to show where authority actually lies.

Foreign investors are no longer willing to operate in the South east region due to the spate of insecurity occasioned by the mindless killings of innocent Nigerians. Now, Soludo has vowed to make sure that economic activities return to the state on Mondays. “We are determined in the fight. We are prepared, enough is enough. I am concerned because the people have given me permission to be their chief servant, it is for the sake of our children, the poor people who depend on the market for daily survival. This fight is to secure Anambra and reassure our investors that Anambra is not a four-day work week; there is a full working week in this state. People; civil servants, and traders must come out on Mondays. For us, this is a moment of reckoning. The calculated economic sabotage to bring down Onitsha must be tackled and on behalf of the Anambra people, we will tackle it head-on. We have exercised enough restraint. Anybody saying he didn’t open for business because of insecurity is just delusional. Insecurity allows you to go to the stadium to play, it allows you to do workouts on the streets, but it doesn’t allow you to open your shop.”

The proponents of the order should realise by now that they have done more harm than good with the directive, and a great damage to the economy of the region. It is quite clear that the sit-at-home order won’t force the federal government to release Kanu. It is the local economy that has taken a hit and now is the time to bring the whole charade to a stop. Those canvassing for the release of Kanu should come up with another strategy, as the sit-at-home has actually set back the economy of the region by several years. In the part of the country where I came from, it is said that you do not cut your nose to spite your face. The south east region must be allowed to grow. The people are hardworking and their progress should not be limited or curtailed by the mindless sit-at-home order that further impoverishes the people. Governor Soludo should be supported by all right-thinking individuals in the state to get the economy of the state back on track. Ending the Monday’s retrogressive sit-at-home order is a step in the right direction.

See you next week.

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Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director, ASF France in Nigeria, stated this on Wednesday at a Capacity-building Session on Mainstreaming Gender Perspective in the Use of the Death Penalty in Abuja.

The two-day workshop is organised to champion the course of the female inmates who are on death row as the World Women’s Rights Organisation celebrates the 16 Days of Activism.

Uzoma-Iwuchukwu said the figure accounted for one of the highest number of women on death row in the sub-Saharan Africa.

“We strongly believe that these women, who have often been neglected, forgotten, because they are behind bars and on death row, we have decided to raise their voices and their peculiar circumstances.

“And this is because there are gender issues around the application of the capital punishment.

“It is often projected as being neutral, but the death penalty is not neutral.

“There are gender biases all across the criminal justice system, starting from the point of arrest, conviction and even incarceration of women who are facing the death penalty,” she said.

She said that “a lot of these women are victims of domestic violence and who often when they react and it leads to maybe homicide cases, the criminal justice system fails to recognise them as victims as they go through the justice system.”

According to her, what we see in practice is that they are subjected to further violence, further discrimination within the system.

“And we argue that these women are in fact convicted and tried for more than their crimes.

“They are tried for more than the crimes that they have committed. They are tried for being women who dared to commit crimes.

“And this is the gender bias, some of the gender bias that we see. There are several other issues that pertain to women and we see that they are not in any way taken into account.

“Now a lot of these women, we see issues around poverty, cross-cutting issues around poverty and how this affects women.

“A lot of them are unable to pay the services of a lawyer and therefore we know, as a capital defence lawyer, I know that the quality of legal defence that you have would indeed determine whether you will end up on death row or not.

“And a lot of these women, because of poverty, because of their socioeconomic status, are unable to afford the services of lawyers to ably represent them.

“So, this is a core issue for us as ASF France, also known as Lawyers Without Borders France,” she added.

The country director cited a case of a young woman (name withheld) in Katsina State who was sentenced to death by stoning under the Sharia law, for having pregnancy out of wedlock.

She said through the intervention of ASF France, the woman’s sentence was upturned at the Court of Appeal.

“The only evidence they got against her was that she got pregnant out of wedlock but they never asked who got her pregnant,” she said.

Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, therefore, sought a moratorium on execution for the women on death row.

“Secondly, women should be recognised as victims, especially when they are going through the death penalty in cases where they have been survivors of gender-based violence.

“It should be a mitigating factor in considering the penalty that will be handed down to them,” she said.

The Executive Director of Mothers And Marginalised Advocacy Centre, Dr Chioma Kanu, said behind every inmate is a mother who cries or a wife, or daughter, or sister whose livelihood is affected.

According to her, when the state executes a young man or woman who didn’t have a fair trial, it creates a new circle of grief.

“Be not deceived, not every death row inmate is a criminal.

“Some are convicted based on confessions obtained under police torture, some inmates languish for decades simply because administrative files went missing.

“Some cannot afford legal representatives.

“Remember, we can release an innocent prisoner but we cannot wake the dead,” she said.

According to her, we want justice for victims and security for our families.

Source: NAN

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A three-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment, held that the appeal lacked merit and had become academic following Kanu’s conviction for terrorism offences.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, FHC, in Abuja, on November 20, convicted and sentenced the IPOB leader to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of terrorism offences charged by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Kanu had claimed, in the instant appeal, that his fundamental rights to human dignity, right to quality healthcare and religion were being breached by his continued detention in the facility of the DSS.

He had prayed the appellate court to upturn the judgement of the FHC in Abuja delivered by retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo on July 3, 2022, which dismissed his suit against the Director General, DG, of the DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, on the grounds that he failed to prove his case.

The convicted IPOB leader had named the DG DSS and AGF as 1st and 2nd respondents.

Justice Boloukuromo Ugo, in the lead judgment, held that the appeal was no longer feasible since his conviction, life imprisonment sentence and remand in prison correctional centre.

Justice Ugo held that the substance of the case had become academic because, since Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, confirmed at the proceedings on Friday, that his client was being held in Sokoto Correctional Centre, the court could no longer order him to be moved to Kuje Correctional Centre to which he had sought to be relocated from the DSS custody.

Justice Ugo further held that, having earlier exhibited preference for prison custody, the court could no longer grant his prayers since he had been convicted and sent to the correctional centre where he had wanted to be kept.

Source: NAN

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A blogger had reported on his Facebook page that Justice Omotosho survived an assassination attempt early Saturday morning, just days after handing down the life sentences to Nnamdi Kanu.

According to the report, Justice Omotosho was immediately rushed to a hospital as security forces scrambled to secure the area.

But reacting, the Chief Registrar of FHC, Sulaiman Hassan, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday morning, said the report was untrue.

The statement is titled, “Rebuttal to False Publication by ‘Celebrity Blogger’ on the Alleged Assassination Attempt on Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.”

It reads: “The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to a publication by CELEBRITY BLOGGER, alleging that the Honourable Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, survived an assassination attempt following the life sentence imposed on Nnamdi Kanu.

“We hereby firmly and unequivocally declare that the said report is completely false and unfounded.

“The public is advised to treat this publication as fake news and refrain from further dissemination to prevent the spread of misinformation.”

Hassan, therefore, called on relevant security agencies to launch a probe into the report with a view to arrest and prosecute the culprits in line with the laws.

“Given the gravity of the report, which has the potential to cause panic and undermine confidence in the judicial system—possibly intended as a form of intimidation—we call on the relevant security agencies and regulatory authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.

“The goal being to identify and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for this false report and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly those relating to cybercrime, defamation, and public misinformation.”

Justice Omotosho had, on Thursday, commuted the death sentence of Kanu, leader of the prescribed IPOB to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of the seven-count terrorism offences.

The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment in relation to counts one, two, four, five and six which carried death sentence each.

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.

He, however, said that to further extend the mercy on the defendant, counts three and seven would run concurrently.

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, citing Mathew 23:23.

Justice Omotosho equally considered the alocutus made by Rep Obi Aguocha, representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia in the National Assembly, on Kanu’s behalf.

He ordered that the IPOB leader be kept in a protective custody in any part of the country, but not in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja and that the radio transmitter be forfeited to the federal government.

Besides, the judge ordered that Kanu, while in custody, should be restricted from making use of digital devices to prevent him from further incitement.

He held that if Kanu must make use of a digital device, this must be closely monitored by the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The judge held that regarding other exhibits found with Kanu, the Department of State Services, DSS, the prosecuting agency, could bring an application for forfeiture to the federal government after the expiration of 90 days of appeal.

Justice Omotosho, who described Kanu’s conduct as “unruly behaviours,” said the defendant was not remorseful.

“I have no hesitation to conclude that the defendant has tendency of violence and it has not left him,” the judge had said.

Source: NAN

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The post FHC speaks on alleged assassination attempt on Justice Omotosho appeared first on Frontpageng.

The verdict was given on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho at about 4.23 p.m.

The judge said Kanu was supposed to be sentenced to death, but the court decided to be lenient.

His words: “I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for the set count 1, 4, 5 and 6 instead of death sentence. This life is sacred to God…”

He spoke generally on the case before giving the verdict and why the court decided to be lenient.

Said he: “No doubt, the convict has not acted well throughout. He has caused delay severally and started crying unlawfully that he was held without trial. And also, his unruly behaviour from the beginning even till today was noticed.

“However, this court will not consider that as the Lord Himself is merciful.  This court is only being merciful to him because we have to be merciful as enjoined by our lord Jesus Christ.  The court is minded to sentence the convict to death due to the sins he committed. The convict did not show any remorse whatever for his actions.

“He remained arrogant, cocky and full of himself, not realising the magnitude of his crime and effect of what he had done against his people in the South East.

“I’ve listened to the alocutus made by the member of the House of Representative representing the constituency of the convict. Although I’m not really persuaded, but I must temper justice with mercy…

“It is on that note that the court will follow this admonition and show mercy to the convict. In addition, the death penalty is globally being frowned upon  by the international community.

“Consequently and in the interest of justice, I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment for the set count 1, 4, 5 and 6 instead of death sentence. This life is sacred to God…”

Meanwhile, before the judgement was given, Kanu, who was returned to court having been earlier ordered out for being unruly, again insisted that he must be given the opportunity to make a final written statement.

When he started shouting, the judge ordered that he should be taken out for the second time.

He suspended the sitting and said he would come back for the judgement.

Shortly after, the judge returned and gave the judgement, but without Kanu allowed in court.

The judge directed Kanu’s consultant to take the judgement to him upon delivery.

Recall that the court had earlier in the day found Kanu guilty of terrorism.

Justice Omotosho declared that the judgement followed the incontrovertible evidences that Kanu made series of broadcasts to incite violence and killings in the country.

Kanu was found guilty of all the seven counts charge against him.

While the first count charge is on terrorism, the second is enforcement of illegal sit at home order while count three is being a member of a proscribed organisatioin.

He is also guilty of the fourth and five counts bordering on inciting people to take up arms against security personnel and their families.

Kanu was also guilty of counts six and seven.

It would be recalled that earlier, Justice Omotosho, ordered Kanu to be removed from the courtroom.

The order followed Kanu’s repeated insistence that the judgement would not be delivered in the terrorism case against him by the federal government.

Kanu argued that the court could not go ahead with the delivery of the judgement which was to be scheduled for Thursday.

His reason was that he was yet to file his final written address.

The IPOB leader accused the judge of being bias.

He also alleged that the judge did not know the law.

Following the order of the judge, Kanu was taken away from the court room.

The judge continued the delivery of the final judgement in his absence and it was broadcast live.

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The post BREAKING: IPOB leader, Kanu, sentenced to life imprisonment appeared first on Frontpageng.

The verdict was given on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho while delivering judgement in the case of terrorism against Kanu.

Justice Omotosho declared that the judgement followed the incontrovertible evidences in count one that Kanu made series of broadcasts to incite violence and killings in the country.

Kanu has been found guilty of all the seven counts charge against him.

While the first count charge is on terrorism, the second is enforcement of illegal sit at home order while count three is being a member of a proscribed organisatioin.

He is also guilty of the fourth and five counts bordering on inciting people to take up arms against security personnel and their families.

It would be recalled that earlier, Justice Omotosho, ordered Kanu to be removed from the courtroom.

The order followed Kanu’s repeated insistence that the judgement would not be delivered in the terrorism case against him by the federal government.

Kanu argued that the court could not go ahead with the delivery of the judgement which was to be scheduled for Thursday.

His reason was that he was yet to file his final written address.

The IPOB leader accused the judge of being bias.

He also alleged that the judge did not know the law.

Following the order of the judge, Kanu was taken away from the court room.

The judge continued the delivery of the final judgement in his absence and broadcast live.

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The post BREAKING: IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, found guilty of terrorism appeared first on Frontpageng.

The order followed Kanu’s repeated insistence that the judgement would not be delivered in the terrorism case against him by the federal government.

Kanu argued that the court could not go ahead with the delivery of the judgement which was to be scheduled for Thursday.

His reason was the he was yet to file his final written address

The IPOB leader accused the judge of being bias.

He also alleged that the judge did not know the law.

Following the order of the judge, Kanu was taken away from the court room.

The judge continued the delivery of the final judgement in his absence and broadcast live.

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The post Judgement day: Judge orders Kanu out of court for being unruly appeared first on Frontpageng.

Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is currently being charged on seven-count bordering on alleged terrorism.

Justice Omotosho had, on November 7, fixed November 20 for judgment in the trial.

The judge fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under a repealed law.

However, in a motion on notice dated November 10 but filed on November 12, Kanu, who personally signed the documents sought one relief.

He prayed the appellate court for “an order staying the proceedings of the trial court in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015: Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Nnamdi Kanu currently pending before Justice James K. Omotosho.”

He sought the order pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

The IPOB leader urged the Appeal Court to look into the lower court’s decision on his no-case submission, the alleged refusal of the lower court to determine its jurisdiction and the validity of the counts under which he is being tried.

He also urged the appellate court to look into the FHC ‘s “foreclosure of the appeliant’s right to defend the case by fielding witnesses.”

Kanu, in his nine-ground argument, averred that in spite of the jurisdictional questions raised before the trial court, the trial court refused to rule on them.

He said the trial court refused to evaluate the evidence of the prosecution witnesses vis-a-vis the cross-examination questions to determine whether the evidence was discredited under cross examination.

He said though he filed a list of witnesses to be called in defence of the case and indicated that his defence would come up “and the appellant fields witnesses immediately the court determines its jurisdiction, the trial court refused and held that the decision would only be given on the objections during judgment.”

According to him, the trial court, while refusing to rule on the objection, foreclosed the appellant’s right to defend the heinous allegations levelled against the appellant.

“The trial court has adjourned the matter for judgment on the 20th of November, 2025.

“If the application is not granted, the appellant may be unlawfully convicted without being afforded the opportunity of knowing the validity of the counts, the jurisdiction of the trial court and offering defence on the merit.

“Further proceedings on the matter will stultify the appellant’s right of appeal and any appellate decision fait accompli,” he said.

Kanu said neither the trial court nor him would be prejudiced “if the application is granted, the case having prolonged since the year 2015 only to commence before the instant court some times in this year 2025.”

He said it would be in the interest of justice to grant the application and allow the matter taken on the merit.

Kanu, who disengaged his lawyers, had opted to represent himself in the charge before Justice Omotosho

Kanu had queried the jurisdiction of the court to try him based on the charge, which he claimed was invalid on the grounds that it was based on repealed laws.

Kanu submitted that the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45 LFN 2004 on which the charge was hinged, had been repealed.

He further argued that the failure of the court to take judicial notice that the laws had been repealed rendered the proceedings so far conducted in the case a nullity.

Kanu claimed that his trial was a conspiracy and had been pre-determined, accusing the British authorities of wanting him to be convicted and jailed.

He alleged that he learnt of the British authorities’ intention about his fate about one and half years ago.

But Justice Omotosho said he was unaware of Kanu’s claim.

The judge, who said that he had no relationship with the British authorities, also clarified that he was not the judge during the period Kanu referred to.

The IPOB leader insisted that he would only enter the witness box to give his testimony after he must have been told under which law he was being tried.

Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, held that Kanu, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, had waived his right to do so.

The judge said he would have extended the days allocated to Kanu to conduct his defence if he had opted to open it.

He said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity given to him to conduct his defence, could not claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.

“This court has given opportunity to the defendant under Section 36 as requires by the constitution and I will not allow this to continue.

“It is based on this, without hesitation, that I say that the defendant has waived his right,” Justice Omotosho said and adjourned the matter until November 20 for judgment.

Source: NAN

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The post Alleged terrorism: Nnamdi Kanu prays Appeal Court to stop lower court proceedings appeared first on Frontpageng.

Justice James Omotosho had, on November 7, fixed November 20 for judgment in the trial of Kanu on alleged terrorism offences.

Justice Omotosho fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under a repealed law.

However, in the motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, and personally filed by Kanu, the IPOB leader sought seven reliefs.

In the application dated November 10 and filed same date, Kanu is seeking for an order arresting the delivery of judgment in charge no: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 scheduled for Nov. 29.

He alleged that the proceedings were conducted under a repealed and non-existent statute and in disobedience to the Supreme Court’s directive contrary to Section 287(1) CFRN 1999.”

He sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 287(1) CFRN, the trial court was constitutionally bound to give effect to the Supreme Court’s finding that Count 15 (now Count 7) “does not exist in law,” and its failure rendered all subsequent proceedings null and void.

He sought a declaration that the court’s failure to take judicial notice of the repeal of the 2013 Terrorism Act, contrary to Section 122 Evidence Act 2011, vitiates all steps taken thereunder.

He also sought a declaration that by virtue of Section 76(1)(d)(iii) of the Terrorism (Prevention. and Prohibition) Act 2022, the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to try him in the absence of proof that the alleged conduct constituted an offence under Kenyan law or of any Kenyan judicial validation or extradition order.

Besides, Kanu sought “a declaration that the plea purportedly taken on 29th March, 2025, under a repealed and non-existent statute and in violation of Section 220 ACJA 2015 is void and incapable of conferring jurisdiction.

“And forged materials amount to constructive denial of fair hearing under Section 36(6) CFRN.

“An order setting aside all proceedings and orders made by Hon. Justice Omotosho in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015 for want of jurisdiction and violation of constitutional supremacy.”

Kanu, who disengaged his lawyers, had opted to represent himself in the charge before Justice Omotosho

Kanu had queried the jurisdiction of the court to try him based on the charge, which he claimed was invalid on the grounds that it was based on repealed laws.

Kanu submitted that the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013 and the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45 LFN 2004 on which the charge was hinged, had been repealed.

He further argued that the failure of the court to take judicial notice that the laws had been repealed rendered the proceedings so far conducted in the case a nullity.

Kanu claimed that his trial was a conspiracy and had been pre-determined, accusing the British authorities of wanting him to be convicted and jailed.

He alleged that he learnt of the British authorities’ intention about his fate about one and half years ago.

But Justice Omotosho said he was unaware of Kanu’s claim.

The judge, who said that he had no relationship with the British authorities, also clarified that he was not the judge during the period Kanu referred to.

The IPOB leader insisted that he would only enter the witness box to give his testimony after he must have been told under which law he was being tried.

Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, held that Kanu, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, had waived his right to do so.

The judge said he would have extended the days allocated to Kanu to conduct his defence if he had opted to open it.

He said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity given to him to conduct his defence, could not claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.

“This court has given opportunity to the defendant under Section 36 as requires by the constitution and I will not allow this to continue.

“It is based on this, without hesitation, that I say that the defendant has waived his right,” Justice Omotosho said and adjourned the matter until November 20 for judgment.

Source: NAN

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The post Alleged terrorism: Kanu files motion to stop court judgment appeared first on Frontpageng.