The Federal High Court says reports that Justice James Omotosho Nnamdi Kanu survived a murder attempt after he was sentenced to life imprisonment is fake news.
news agency of nigeria The report said a blogger had revealed on his Facebook page that Justice Omotosho survived an assassination attempt on Saturday morning, just days after sentencing Kanu to life imprisonment.
According to reports, Justice Omotosho was immediately taken to hospital as security forces rushed to secure the area.
But reacting, FHC Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, said the report was false.
The statement is titled, “Rebuttal to false publication by 'celebrity blogger' on alleged assassination attempt on Federal High Court Justice James Omotosho.”
It reads, “The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to a publication by a celebrity blogger alleging that Honorable Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, survived a murder attempt following the life sentence imposed on Nnamdi Kanu.
“We strongly and unequivocally declare that the said report is completely false and baseless.
“The public is advised to consider this publication as fake news and avoid further dissemination to prevent the spread of misinformation.”
Hassan, therefore, called on the concerned security agencies to initiate investigation into the report with a view to arresting the culprits and prosecuting them in accordance with the law.
“Given the seriousness of the report, which has the potential to cause panic and undermine confidence in the judicial system, possibly with the aim of intimidation, we call on the relevant security agencies and regulatory authorities to conduct a thorough investigation.
“The goal is 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 cyber crime, defamation and public misinformation,” the statement said.
Nan Justice Omotosho on Thursday commuted the death sentence of Kanu, the leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, to life imprisonment after he was found guilty of seven-count terrorism offences, reports said.
The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment in respect of counts one, two, four, five and six, each of which carried the death penalty.
For count three, relating to offenses relating to a banned terrorist group, Justice Omotosho sentenced him to 20 years' imprisonment without the option of a fine.
On the seventh count, bordering on the unlawful importation of a radio transmitter, which is not registered in Nigeria, for the purpose of furthering the activities of Radio Biafra, the judge sentenced him to five years' imprisonment without the option of a fine.
However, he said counts three and seven would run concurrently to further increase leniency for the defendant.
The judge, who said Kanu was unruly throughout the trial, said that the law allows the court to sentence him to death for terrorism crimes, but he (the judge), as a Christian, chose to be lenient towards the defendant, citing Matthew 23:23.
Justice Omotosho equally took note of the allocation made by Representative Obi Aguocha representing Ikuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia in the National Assembly on behalf of KANU.
He ordered that the IPOB leader be held in protective custody in any part of the country, but not in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, and that the radio transmitter be confiscated by the Federal Government.
Additionally, the judge ordered that Kanu be restricted from using digital devices while in custody to prevent him from inciting further incitement.
He said if KANU is to use digital tools, it should be closely monitored by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The judge held that in respect of other exhibits found in Kanu's possession, the Department of State Services, the prosecuting agency, could bring an application for confiscation to the federal government after the expiry of 90 days of appeal.
Justice Omotosho, who described Kanu's conduct as “unruly behaviour”, said the defendant was unrepentant.
The judge had said, “I have no hesitation in concluding that the defendant has a propensity for violence and that it has not left him.”
(NAN)
