The Federal Government has called for the death sentence to be imposed on Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), shortly after the Federal High Court in Abuja found him guilty on seven counts of terrorism.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution had “proved its case beyond reasonable doubt,” convicting Kanu on all charges brought under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Following the conviction, the Federal Government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to apply the maximum punishment prescribed by law.
Awomolo told the court, “My Lord, consequent upon the conviction, nothing further remains but the lawful imposition of sentence. The punishment prescribed for the offences in Counts One, Two, Four, Five and Six, pursuant to Section 12H of the Terrorism Prevention Amendment Act 2013, is death.”
He added that the court had no discretion on the matter: “With all sense of humility, I say as a prosecutor that this court has no discretion in that regard. The only sentence Your Lordship can impose for Counts One, Two, Four, Five and Six is death, because the law empowers you to do so, and we expect that you will.”
After the submissions from both sides, Justice Omotosho announced a short break, stating that the court would reconvene at 3:50 p.m. to deliver the sentencing decision.
