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“The death sentence globally is being frowned upon by the international community so consequently and in the interest of justice, I hereby sentence the convict to life imprisonment,” he said.
“His intention was quite clear as he believed in violence. These threats of violence were nothing but terrorist acts, which were duly carried out by his followers,” Omotosho said.
Kanu also got a combined 25 years in jail for two of the charges, without the option of a fine, which will all run concurrently. He has a 90-day window to file an appeal.
Kanu, who has been in custody since his controversial re-arrest in Kenya in 2021, shouted angrily during the proceedings and was kicked out of court ahead of the ruling. He had argued that his unlawful extradition from Kenya undermined any chance of a fair trial.
Thursday’s judgment followed months of legal drama that included four different judges. The government closed its case after calling five witnesses, but Kanu refused to open his defence, arguing that Nigeria’s terrorism law had been repealed and that the charges were invalid.
His no-case submission was dismissed in September after sacking his legal team in open court, and the judge gave him multiple opportunities to present a defence.
Earlier in November, Omotosho ruled that Kanu had squandered a six-day window allotted for his defence and the court had no option but to close the case.
Kanu, a dual Nigerian-British citizen, first faced charges in 2015 and briefly secured bail in 2017 before fleeing the country.
Kanu argues he did not get fair trial
Earlier, Kanu, who has been in custody since his controversial re-arrest in Kenya in 2021, shouted angrily during the proceedings and was kicked out of court ahead of the ruling. He had argued that his unlawful extradition from Kenya undermined any chance of a fair trial.
Thursday’s judgment followed months of legal drama that included four different judges. The government closed its case after calling five witnesses, but Kanu refused to open his defence, arguing that Nigeria’s terrorism law had been repealed and that the charges were invalid.
His no-case submission was dismissed in September after sacking his legal team in open court, and the judge gave him multiple opportunities to present a defence.
Earlier in November, Omotosho ruled that Kanu had squandered a six-day window allotted for his defence and the court had no option but to close the case.
Kanu, a dual Nigerian-British citizen, first faced charges in 2015 and briefly secured bail in 2017 before fleeing the country.
