Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will challenge the life sentence handed to him by the Federal High Court in Abuja, his lawyer and legal consultant, Aloy Ejimakor, has confirmed.
Ejimakor, speaking to journalists shortly after Thursday’s judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, described the ruling as a “travesty of justice” and said the legal battle was far from over.
“We are heading straight to the Court of Appeal,” he announced. “It is the only court that sits as a jury in Nigeria. We’re going there to ask the justices to review everything that happened today.”
Expressing confidence, Ejimakor insisted that the conviction would not stand.
“If the Court of Appeal does not agree with us, we will go to the Supreme Court. By God Almighty, Nnamdi Kanu will not remain convicted, this judgment will be overturned,” he said emphatically.
Earlier, Insightlinks reported that Justice Omotosho found Kanu guilty on all seven terrorism-related counts. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment on five of the charges, 20 years on one count, and five years on another, all without the option of a fine. The judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently.
While explaining his decision, Justice Omotosho said the death penalty was no longer favoured globally and that life imprisonment was more appropriate. He also added that Kanu did not appear to have abandoned violent tendencies and should therefore be kept in a more secure facility other than Kuje prison.
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