The sentencing was announced by Justice James Omotosho.

Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment for Counts 4, 5, and 6 of the seven-count charges, while he was handed a 20-year jail term for Count 2.

Justice James Omotosho, while delivering judgment, said the prosecution proved its case in the seven counts against Kanu beyond a reasonable doubt.

On Count One, he said that the defendant failed to respond to the broadcast accusation and deliberately refused to enter his defence on it.

Omotosho stated that evidence shown by the prosecution revealed that the defendant ordered the sit-at-home order in the South-East region.

He said Kanu committed an act of terrorism against Nigeria by making a broadcast threatening that people would die and the world would be at a standstill.

Read Also: Court to Deliver Judgment in Kanu’s Terrorism Case November 20

The judge said the defendant knew what he was doing and was bent on carrying out the threats without consideration for the lives of his own people.

“From the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution, it is clear that the defendant carried out a preparatory act of terrorism. He had the duty to explain himself, but failed to do so,” Omotosho said.

The post BREAKING: IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Sentenced to Life Imprisonment appeared first on Afinju FM.

The decision followed the dismissal of three fresh motions filed by Kanu, which the court held to be without merit.

Tensions rose during the ruling when Kanu interjected, insisting that the court could not move forward because he had not filed his final written address.

Raising his voice, he challenged the legality of the charges and accused Justice Omotosho of bias and misunderstanding the law.

Following a brief recess, the prosecution, led by Adegboyega Awomolo, urged the court to continue the proceedings without the defendant, arguing that his behaviour amounted to deliberate disruption. Justice Omotosho agreed, stating that although a defendant has a constitutional right to be present during trial, persistent misconduct can justify conducting proceedings in their absence.

“If a defendant misconducts himself or acts in an unruly manner during the course of his trial, his trial can be conducted in his absence,” he said, adding that the court “is a temple of God” and must maintain order.

Read Also:Nnamdi Kanu to Defend Himself as Lawyers Withdraw from Case

He noted that Kanu had displayed similar conduct on several previous occasions and had already indicated that he would not present a defence. The day’s session, the judge said, was scheduled for judgment and possible sentencing.

Kanu was subsequently removed from the courtroom, and Justice Omotosho continued with the delivery of the ruling.

Source: Punch

The post Court Removes Nnamdi Kanu for Disruptive Behaviour Amid Judgment Delivery appeared first on Afinju FM.

The activist wrote, “We now have a date for the historic #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest march to the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja. It is October 20 at 7 am.”

Sowore urged all South-East governors, lawmakers, traditional rulers, and religious leaders to join the demonstration.

“Every governor, senator, member of the House, traditional ruler, priest, eze, Igbo person, and every Nigerian who believes in Kanu’s freedom should come out and do more than talk,” he added.

He also emphasised that he had reached out to other prominent Igbo leaders, including Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Abia State Governor, Alex Otti; and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to join the protest.

“This is not the time for hesitation. If we genuinely believe that MaziNnamdiKanu deserves freedom, then every leader of conscience must act, now, not later,” he wrote.

Recall that Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since his re-arrest in 2021 after his controversial extradition from Kenya. Despite multiple court rulings ordering his release, the Federal Government has yet to comply, drawing condemnation from rights groups and political leaders.

Read Also: Shun Nigerian Army recruitment or perish, IPOB warns Igbo youths

He faces charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, and incitement, filed by the Federal Government before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu has consistently pleaded not guilty to all counts.

In October 2022, the Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him of all charges, ruling that his extradition to Nigeria violated international laws.

Source: Punch

The post Sowore Set To lead #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest In Abuja appeared first on Afinju FM.

Justice James Omotosho ordered the NMA President to submit the committee’s report within eight days for consideration on whether Kanu should be transferred to the National Hospital for treatment.

The judge directed that the committee, among other tasks, should assess the Department of State Services hospital to confirm whether it has the capacity to meet Kanu’s health needs.

Justice Omotosho further ruled that the NMA committee would be at liberty to make use of any hospital in the country for its investigations, noting that the panel should comprise between eight and ten NMA members, including a cardiologist and a neurologist.

The Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital must also be part of the committee.

The decision followed conflicting medical reports presented by the DSS medical team and Kanu’s private consultants.

Earlier, the Department of State Services’ lead counsel, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, disclosed the NMA’s intervention while opposing an application by Kanu’s legal team for his transfer to the National Hospital for urgent treatment.

Awomolo explained that a team of medical experts had already visited Kanu in DSS custody to assess his health, adding that the DSS medical team, led by Dr Mohammed Nasir, maintained that his condition could be adequately managed within DSS facilities.

In contrast, Kanu’s private consultants, led by Martin Aghaji, a retired professor of medicine from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, argued that his deteriorating health required urgent transfer to the National Hospital, and even suggested possible treatment abroad.

The DSS dismissed Aghaji’s report as exaggerated and suspicious, particularly for recommending foreign hospitals, and alleged that he had unilaterally altered Kanu’s medication without consulting DSS doctors who had been treating him for four years.

Read Also: Prosecution closes case in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial

Awomolo further argued that transferring Kanu to the National Hospital would disrupt services and pose security risks, insisting that the federal government was committed to his safety and willing to allow him access to medical experts of his choice within DSS facilities.

Kanu’s lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, however, maintained that the transfer request was based on Aghaji’s findings, stressing that the DSS lacked the facilities to manage Kanu’s ailments and argued that it was in the interest of justice that Kanu remain alive to face the terrorism charges against him.

Ikpeazu added that his team would not oppose the NMA’s intervention, provided it was ordered by the court.

Source: Punch

The post Court Mandates NMA to Conduct Medical Assessment Of Nnamdi Kanu appeared first on Afinju FM.

Awomolo affirmed that after calling five witnesses in the trial, the prosecution was satisfied that from the evidence led and exhibits tendered, the prosecution is satisfied.

Defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi, SAN, said the defendant plans to make a no-case submission, which would be filed in due course.

The post Prosecution closes case in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial appeared first on Afinju FM.

The trial judge said the case was moved to the DSS headquarters to allow for the inspection of Kanu’s shipping container.

The container was said to have been used by Kanu to bring a radio transmitter into Nigeria for broadcast on Radio Biafra.

The IPOB leader is currently facing trial for terrorism due to his push for the actualization of Biafra.

The post Judge moves Nnamdi Kanu’s trial to DSS headquarters appeared first on Afinju FM.

Ejimakor, however, disclosed that Kanu’s legal team has not been served with the charges he would face before Justice Omotosho.

Kanu has been facing charges over his pursuit for the actualization of Biafra.

Read Also: Court orders Nnamdi Kanu to appear on Monday

In September 2024, Kanu had challenged Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja to recuse herself from his trial.

Following his call, Justice Nyako recused herself but the Chief Judge of the Abuja Federal High Court rejected her decision.

In December, Justice Nyako adjourned Kanu’s case indefinitely.

Against this backdrop, Kanu vowed never to appear in court until an impartial judge is appointed to preside over his case.

The post New trial judge fixes March 21 for Nnamdi Kanu’s trial appeared first on Afinju FM.

Kanu had earlier requested that his case be transferred to the South-East if no judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja was willing to handle it apart from Justice Nyako.

On September 24, 2024, during one of the court sessions, Kanu made a request before the open court that Justice Nyako should recuse herself from his trial, citing a lack of confidence in her.

Following this request, Justice Nyako recused herself and transferred the case file to Justice Tsoho.

However, Justice Tsoho subsequently returned the case file to Justice Nyako for the continuation of the trial.

Kanu has since maintained that Justice Nyako presiding over the case after her recusal would amount to a violation of her own judicial orders.

He instructed his legal team to ensure that she refrained from handling the case.

Responding to the Monday hearing notice, Ejimakor expressed surprise, stating that they shall appear with bated breath.

The hearing notice stated that the case will be transferred from the general cause list to the hearing paper for Monday at 9:00 a.m. in the forenoon and will come on to be heard on that day if the business of the court permits, or otherwise on some adjournment day of which you will receive no further notice.

It also said that if either party desires to postpone the hearing, they must apply to the court as soon as possible for that purpose. If the application is based on any matter of fact, the applicant must be prepared to provide proof of those facts.

The parties are warned that at the hearing, they are required to bring forward all the evidence by witnesses or documents they desire to rely on in support of their case or in contradiction of their opponent’s case.

According to the notice, the proof will be required at the hearing and not on a subsequent day. Parties failing to bring their evidence forward at the proper time may find themselves precluded from adducing it, or, at best, allowed to do so on payment of substantial costs to the other side and under such terms as the court deems fit.

Read Also: Knocks as Northern lawmakers back demand for Nnamdi Kanu’s release

Meanwhile, Kanu, through his counsel Ejimakor, reiterated his desire to have the matter transferred to a High Court in the South-East in a letter dated January 30, 2025.

Ejimakor in the letter argued that Justice Nyako no longer has jurisdiction to handle the case following her recusal, which he described as binding.

He stated, that given that no other judge in the Abuja division is willing to take the case, the only viable option is to transfer the case to any division of the Federal High Court in the South-East geopolitical zone, especially since the alleged offences have an impact in the South-East and not Abuja. This gives the South-East divisions superior jurisdiction compared to Abuja.

Ejimakor appealed to the court to consider their request to prevent a miscarriage of justice for the defendant.

The post Court orders Nnamdi Kanu to appear on Monday appeared first on Afinju FM.

The pro-Biafran group categorically maintained that the Nigerian state was not for Ndigbo and Biafrans.

In a statement, the IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the group was against Igbo youths joining the Nigerian Army because it had no good intentions towards Ndigbo.

Powerful stated that it would be deadly for any Igbo to join an institution that was working against Ndigbo’s interest

.The Indigenous People of Biafra has cautioned Igbo youths against joining Nigerian Army, warning that any youths who fail to comply may be a sacrificial lamb.

The pro-Biafran group categorically maintained that the Nigerian state was not for Ndigbo and Biafrans.

In a statement, the IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the group was against Igbo youths joining the Nigerian Army because it had no good intentions towards Ndigbo.

Powerful stated that it would be deadly for any Igbo to join an institution that was working against Ndigbo’s interest.

The post Shun Nigerian Army recruitment or perish, IPOB warns Igbo youths appeared first on Afinju FM.