Crime
Nnamdi Kanu To Appeal Life Sentence, Says Lawyer Ejimakor
Nnamdi Kanu To Appeal Life Sentence, Says Lawyer Ejimakor
Nnamdi Kanu to appeal life sentence, says lawyer Ejimakor. Aloy Ejimakor, legal consultant to Nnamdi Kanu, says the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) will appeal the federal high court ruling that sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Ejimakor spoke with journalists shortly after James Omotosho, the presiding judge, gave the ruling on Thursday.
The judge sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment on counts one, four, five and six.
He also imposed 20 years on count three and five years on count seven, with all sentences to run concurrently and without an option of a fine.
However, Ejimakor challenged the ruling, noting that the defence team will file an appeal.
“What kind of precedent is being laid here? We are heading to the court of appeal,” he said.
“The court of appeal is the only court in this country, or the next court in this country, that sits as a jury; we are going to approach justices there to check out what happened in court today.
“And we are pretty sure the justices will agree with us that today was the symbol of the travesty of justice that everybody has been suspecting.
“If the court of appeal disagrees with us, we head to the supreme court; Nnamdi Kanu is not going to stand convicted, he’s going to get overturned.
“This is the only day I have witnessed a man being convicted for mere pronouncements, just for what he said from his mouth, not what he did with his own hands.
“The verdict is not consistent with the evidence laid before the court; the sentence is overbroad, cruel and unusual.
“How can you convict a man for making a mere broadcast from a location that was never named, and he never tied that broadcast to any single incident of violence, or even someone slapping someone, not to talk of terrorism?”
‘I CONGRATULATE NIGERIA’
On his part, Adegboyega Awomolo, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and lead counsel for the federal government, said Kanu’s sentence signals that no one is above the country’s law.
Awomolo thanked the judiciary for the verdict, noting that the judgement saved the country from the “claws” of the proscribed group.
“So, I congratulate Nigeria today for seeing the end of this, and let it be a warning: those who may think they are bigger than Nigeria—Nigeria is bigger than every one of us,” Awomolo said.
“The law is bigger than every one of us, and the law will take its course to deal with miscreants, to deal with terrorists, and to deal with criminals.
“You know, all of us are victims when we keep quiet; all of us are victims when we don’t do what we ought to do.
“Justice has been done and therefore Nigerians must one way or the other appreciate the judiciary.
“You remember just last Monday the president was saying that any time when Nigeria is in a big trouble or fix, the judiciary has always come to the aid to salvage Nigeria again.
“The judiciary has salvaged Nigeria from the claws, from the oppression of the proscribed IPOB.”
Nnamdi Kanu
KANU FOUND GUILTY OF TERRORISM
Earlier, the federal high court found the IPOB leader guilty on all seven counts filed against him by the federal government.
The judge held that the prosecution had successfully established every allegation against Kanu.
He noted that Kanu offered no credible defence and “deliberately refused” to challenge the evidence presented in court.
Omotosho described the IPOB leader as “a person who cannot be allowed to remain in the company of sane minds.”
He added that Kanu’s longstanding claim of being a freedom fighter could not excuse actions taken outside the bounds of the law.
According to the judge, Kanu pursued his agitation through “brutal force and terrorism”, an approach he said resulted in the “bloodshed of innocent citizens”.
EFCC Releases Ex-AGF Malami After Hours Of Interrogation
EFCC releases ex-AGF Malami after hours of interrogation. He said he would return for further questioning.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released the former attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, after hours of interrogation by the anti-graft team.
Mr Malami confirmed his release in his X account on Saturday. The former minister said that he had been released and scheduled for another meeting with investigators.
He said that the reality behind the “fabricated allegations” levelled against him would become clearer with time.
“In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for his divine intervention. “The engagement was successful and I am eventually released while on an appointment for further engagement as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continues to unfold.”
EFCC Releases Ex-AGF Malami After Hours Of Interrogation
The EFCC had summoned Mr Malami through a letter dated November 24, and signed by Sunday Ofen-Imu on behalf of its chairman, Ola Olukoyede.
The EFCC did not disclose the specific allegations for which Mr Malami was invited.
Kano NSCDC Nabs 11 Suspected Hoodlums With Dangerous Weapons
Kano NSCDC nabs 11 suspected hoodlums with dangerous weapons. According to Mr Idris-Abdullahi, the suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State command, says it has arrested a gang of 11 suspected hoodlums found in possession of dangerous weapons in Mariri, Kumbotso Local Government Area.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Kano by the command’s public relations officer, SC Ibrahim Idris-Abdullahi.
He listed the suspects as Idris Muhammad,20, Abubakar Shuaibu,24, Sagiru Hassan Yusuf, 25, Idris Muhammad Morata, 25, and Anas Rabiu, 23.
Others were Yahaya Muhammad, 29, Khalid Idris, 28, Muhammad Adamu, 19, Muktar Auwal Muktar ,22, Salim Muktar, 18, and Saifullahi Nuhu,18.
According to Mr Idris-Abdullahi, operatives of the command apprehended the suspects on Wednesday at about 1:00 a.m, armed with dangerous local weapons.
NSCDC
“The gang was on a rampage after attending a local traditional festival in Mariri area and were attacking residents and dispossessing them of their belongings.
“The gang also stormed a nearby NSCDC outpost in Mariri, attacked and left a staff fractured in the office” he said
Idris-Abdullahi listed the items recovered to include six cutlasses, swords and a pair of scissors.
He added that the command’s intelligence and investigation department had concluded investigations and the suspects would be charged to court.
Idris-Abdullahi quoted the state commandant, Mohammed Hassan-Agalama, as reaffirming the command’s commitment to tackling criminal activities, protecting critical national assets and safeguarding public peace in Kano State.
Lagos Police Nab 26 Over Counterfeit Currency, Adulterated Diesel
Lagos Police nab 26 over counterfeit currency, adulterated diesel. The police said N951,300 in counterfeit notes was recovered from the suspects’ premises during the raid.
The police command in Lagos has apprehended 26 suspects over counterfeit currency and adulterated diesel in the Eti-Osa and Lekki areas. The command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed this in a statement on Friday.
She said the suspects were apprehended on Thursday afternoon during a joint operation conducted by police officers and officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline.
According to her, a total of N951,300 in counterfeit notes was recovered from the suspects’ premises during the raid.
The spokesperson said investigations revealed that four of the suspects were directly involved in the production and distribution of adulterated diesel and engine oil, locally known as ‘rice and beans’.
“The illicit product was sold to unsuspecting motorists across the area. Two other suspects were identified as suppliers of the adulterated petroleum products,” she said.
Police Arrests
Ms Adebisi said that police commissioner Olohundare Jimoh warned all criminally minded individuals to desist from their nefarious activities.
“CP Jimoh cautioned that anyone involved in acts that threaten public peace or economic stability will face the full weight of the law,” she said.
She assured residents that Lagos remains safe, reiterating that the command is in control of the security situation and has prioritised the safety and well-being of all residents.
She urged the public to provide credible and timely information that could assist the police in apprehending criminals and preventing crime.
“Public cooperation remains essential to sustaining the peace and security for which Lagos state is known,” she said.
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