By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism, instead of death sentence.
The judgement was announced on Thursday by Justice James Omotosho.
He had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts bordering on terrorism.
Even though each count carried the maximum death penalty, Kanu was handed a life imprisonment sentence for counts 4, 5 and 6 of the seven-count charges, while he was handed a 20-year jail term for Count 2.
Justice Omotoso weighed in on the side of life imprisonment based on the fact that death sentence was going into extinction worldwide and because the Holy books recommends mercy.
He held that Kanu be kept in a facility suitable for his violent tendencies, as Kuje Correctional Centre would not serve the purpose his sentence was meant to achieve.
Justice Omotosho ordered that Kanu serve his life prison term and be kept in protective custody in a correctional centre located in any part of the country outside the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The Court further held that the convict must not have access to any digital device. If he must have access to one, it must be with the approval and under the supervision of the National Security Adviser (NSA).
The Court also ordered that all IPOB transmitters Kanu used for his broadcast be forfeited to the Federal Government.
He said if there is no appeal in the case, other equipment used by Kanu should also be forfeited to the government.