Federal Government on Thursday urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to impose the death penalty on Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), after his conviction on seven counts of terrorism.
Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found Kanu guilty on all seven charges.
Immediately after the conviction, the Federal Government’s lead counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Mr Awomolo said, “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, “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, Justice Omotosho announced a recess and said the court would reconvene at 3:50 p.m. for sentencing.
“This court will reconvene by 3:50 p.m. for sentencing,” the judge said before rising.
Kanu was convicted on all the charges preferred against him, including terrorism, incitement and killings.
The court held that the prosecution had sufficiently proved its case.
Justice Omotosho took the final addresses of both parties during the allocutus stage before stepping out to prepare the sentencing decision.
