By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Federal Government has moved firmly for the death penalty against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, urging the court to impose the harshest punishment available following his conviction on Thursday.
Nigeria’s lead prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, made the request moments after the Federal High Court in Abuja found Kanu guilty on all seven terrorism-related charges levelled against him.
Awomolo argued that anything short of the maximum penalty would amount to injustice to those affected by Kanu’s alleged actions.
According to the prosecution, Kanu’s broadcasts and directives “incited violence that claimed the lives of several security operatives and led to the destruction of public facilities” across the South-East.
Awomolo further asserted that IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), acted in ways designed “to destabilise the Nigerian state.”
The court heard that five of the seven counts against Kanu carry the death sentence, while count three attracts twenty years’ imprisonment and count seven carries a five-year jail term.
Awomolo pressed the court to consider “the gravity and nature of the terrorist acts committed against innocent Nigerians residing in the South-East.”
He insisted that the IPOB leader had demonstrated no remorse throughout the trial, claiming his conduct before the court “reeked of arrogance rather than penitence.”
As part of its prayers, the government also asked the court to order the forfeiture of all seized broadcast equipment linked to Kanu.
In addition, the prosecution sought restrictions on Kanu’s access to digital devices and internet facilities during his incarceration, arguing that such measures were necessary to prevent further incitement.
It also urged the court not to send him to Kuje Prison, citing previous jailbreaks at the facility that could compromise his safety.
Before the court temporarily stood the matter down until 4:10pm for sentencing, it listened to a plea for leniency from Hon Obinna Aguocha, the House of Representatives member for Ikwuano/Umuahia North & South. Aguocha appealed for mercy, urging the court to temper justice with compassion.
Thursday’s ruling brings to a close a legal battle that has stretched for more than a decade, marking a significant turning point in one of the country’s most contentious security and political cases.
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