Esther Imonmion
The Federal High Court has dismissed as fake news a viral report alleging that Justice James Omotosho survived an assassination attempt days after sentencing Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that a blogger had claimed on Facebook that the judge was attacked on Saturday morning and rushed to a hospital as security operatives secured the area.
However, in a statement on Sunday, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Sulaiman Hassan, described the publication as “completely false and unfounded.”
The statement, titled “Rebuttal to False Publication by ‘Celebrity Blogger’ on the Alleged Assassination Attempt on Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court,” urged the public to disregard the report.
“The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to a publication alleging that Honourable Justice James Omotosho survived an assassination attempt following the life sentence imposed on Nnamdi Kanu. We hereby firmly and unequivocally declare that the said report is completely false,” the statement said.
Hassan called on security agencies and regulators to investigate the source of the publication, identify those behind it, and prosecute them for cybercrime, defamation, and public misinformation.
He warned that such misinformation could cause public panic and undermine confidence in the judiciary, adding that the motive may have been to intimidate the court.
NAN reports that on Thursday, Justice Omotosho sentenced Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of seven terrorism-related charges.
The judge handed life sentences on counts one, two, four, five, and six, which originally carried the death penalty. For count three, involving membership of a proscribed terrorist organisation, Kanu was sentenced to 20 years without an option of fine.
He also received five years without an option of fine on count seven for unlawful importation of a radio transmitter for Radio Biafra.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the sentences for counts three and seven would run concurrently “as an act of mercy,” citing his Christian convictions and referencing Matthew 23:23.
The judge also considered mitigating pleas from Rep. Obi Aguocha of the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State.
He ordered that Kanu be held in protective custody outside Kuje Correctional Centre and restricted from using digital devices unless under strict supervision by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He further directed that the radio transmitter be forfeited to the Federal Government, and that the DSS may apply for forfeiture of other seized exhibits after 90 days if no appeal is filed.
Justice Omotosho described Kanu as unruly and unremorseful throughout the trial, saying he showed “a tendency of violence” that had not changed.