The Federal High Court has dismissed as false a widely circulated social media report alleging that Justice James Omotosho narrowly escaped an assassination attempt days after sentencing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment.
The claim, first posted by a Facebook blogger, alleged that unidentified attackers targeted the judge on Saturday morning and that he was rushed to a hospital as security operatives secured the area.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Sulaiman Hassan, strongly refuted the report, describing it as an attempt to mislead the public.
“We hereby firmly and unequivocally declare that the said report is completely false and unfounded,”
Hassan said.
“The public is advised to treat this publication as fake news and refrain from further dissemination to prevent the spread of misinformation.”
He explained that no such incident occurred and urged security agencies to investigate the origin of the false report with a view to arresting and prosecuting those responsible under relevant laws, including those bordering on cybercrime and defamation.
“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 Chief Registrar added.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Kanu on Thursday after finding him guilty of seven terrorism-related charges. Five of the counts carried the death penalty, which the judge commuted to life imprisonment.
He also imposed 20 years’ imprisonment on Kanu for belonging to a proscribed terrorist organization and five years for unlawfully importing a radio transmitter used for Radio Biafra broadcasts.
The judge ordered that the latter two sentences run concurrently “to further extend mercy” to the defendant.
Justice Omotosho directed that Kanu be held in protective custody outside the Kuje Correctional Centre and restricted from using digital devices unless monitored by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He added that the Department of State Services may apply for forfeiture of certain exhibits recovered from Kanu after the expiration of the 90-day appeal window.
Describing Kanu’s behaviour during the trial as unruly, the judge said he found no signs of remorse.
“I have no hesitation to conclude that the defendant has a tendency of violence and it has not left him,”
Justice Omotosho stated during sentencing.
The Federal High Court reiterated on Sunday that no attack was carried out on the judge and urged the public to rely on verified information.
