Court sentence Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment - Wetin e mean and what next for di Ipob leader?
One court for Abuja, Nigeria capital don sentence separatist leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment.
Justice James Omotosho for im ruling hand ova di sentence afta di court find am guilty of terrorism, plus oda charges.
Justice Omotosho tok say na death penalty di court suppose give di convict but im follow di word of di Holy Scripture to temper justice wit mercy.
Di judge add say Kanu no show remorse for di bad tins wey e do and im no dey persuaded to lessen im judgement, but im show mercy and apart from dat, all ova di world, international community now dey frown on death penalty.
For im ruling, e say im dey satisfied say Kanu bin make plenty broadcasts to incite violence and killings, as part of im campaign for a separate state for south-east Nigeria, known as Biafra.
Bifor di sentencing wey hapun on Thursday, 20 November, di court bin declare Oga Kanu guilty of all di seven-count charges wey di govment bring against am wey include terrorism plus accuse say e incite violence.
For March, e bin plead not guilty to di charges, however during di trial e refuse to open im defence, as e instead argue say di charges no dey valid.
Breakdown of Nnamdi Kanu sentence
Justice Omotosho sentence Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment on count 1, 4, 5, and 6 instead of a death sentence.
On Count One, e say di defendant fail to respond to di broadcast accusation and e deliberately refuse to enta im defence on am.
E say evidence wey di prosecution show reveal say di defendant give sit-at-home order for di South-East region. Plus, Kanu commit act of terrorism against Nigeria wit di broadcast wey e threaten say pipo go die and di world go standstill.
For count 3 - e sentence di separatist leader to 20 years imprisonment wit no option of fine
For count 7 – e dey sentenced to 5 years jail term wit no option of fine.
Di sentence go run concurrently sake of di charges wey bother on terrorism plus di violent nature wey e show for court, di judge tok.
Dis one mean say, all di jail terms on di respective terms of imprisonment go run at di same time.
Justice Omotosho also rule say make dem keep Oga Kanu for facility wey dey suitable for am for custody, as e say Kuje Correctional Center no go dey appropriate.
E also ban di convict from using any digital device without close supervision. E say make dem no allow am close to any digital device and if e must use am, di office of di National Security Adviser to monitor am.
E also say make dem put Kanu for protective custody of any correctional center around di country.
Justice Omotosho also rule say make Nigeria govment take ova im transmitter.
Wetin di sentencing mean for Nnamdi Kanu?
Barrister Abiola Olawale wey follow BBC News Pidgin tok say di implication of di sentence na say di Ipob leader go move from being an accused pesin to di status of a convicted pesin.
Dem go hand am ova to di correctional service for am to serve im jail term.
E get right of appeal. E fit appeal to di court of appeal within 90 days from today. E fit do am do am personally or through im Attorney.
"E get a right of appeal from Federal High Court to Court of Appeal, den from Court of Appeal up to Supreme Court," Barrister Olawale tok.
Meanwhile, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor wey bin represent Nnamdi Kanu at one point bifor Oga Kanu relieve am of im duties, tok say dem disagree wit di judgement "vehemently" and go fight am until justice is done.
"Di judgement no dey based on law, dem no base am on facts, dem base am on politics, primordial sentiments just bicos Nnamdi Kanu na Igbo."
"Mazi Nnamdi Kanu no be terrorist, na man wey dey pursue change, man wey dey pursue separate nation and dat no be crime." Barrister Ejimakor tok.
E add say, dem dey go Court of Appeal, if dem no get justice for there, dem go head to di Supreme Court.
Di lead prosecution counsel Adegboyega Awomolo SAN tok say wetin di sentence mean na say di judiciary don save Nigeria from di proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB na one secessionist movement wey dey agitate for di independence of di southeastern region of Nigeria. Dem dey call for a separate state, known as Biafra.
Barrister Awomolo SAN tok say di court don also pronounce death sentence on Eastern Security Network wey be di military wing of Ipob.
"Today, God don bring end to injustice and oppression wey pipo for di east dey suffer, now dem go fit sleep wit dia two eyes close".
E add say today judgement na warning for pipo wey tink say dem big pass Nigeria. "Nigeria big pass evribody, and di law big pass all of us, and e go take im course to deal wit miscreants, criminals, and terrorists," e add.
Di seven counts court find Nnamdi Kanu guilty of
- Count 1: Say you Nnamdi Kanu as member and leader of Ipob commit act of terrorism against di federal republic of Nigeria by making broadcast wit intention to intimidate di population.
- Count 2: Say you Nnamdi Kanu as member and leader of Ipob commit act of terrorism against di federal republic of Nigeria by making broadcast wit intention to threaten members of di public wit sit at home order.
- Count 3: Say you Nnamdi Kanu make broadcast wia you declare your sef as member and leader of Ipob, group wey Nigeria govment don ban.
- Count 4: Say you Nnamdi Kanu make broadcast wia you encourage members of di public to kill Nigeria security officers.
- Count 5: Say you Nnamdi Kanu make broadcast wia you encourage di public to attack officers of di Nigeria police force.
- Count 6: Say you Nnamdi Kanu make broadcast wia you encourage members of di public to burn down evri federal govment facilty for Lagos wey lead to major economic loss to federal goment.
- Count 7: Say you Nnamdi Kanu import Radio transmitter known as Tram 50L and hide am inside container for Ubulisiuzor for Ihiala Local government area of Anambra state.
