A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on a count of terrorism.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the verdict, stating he was satisfied with the “uncontroverted evidence” provided by the prosecution.
The judge found that Kanu, in furtherance of his Biafra agitation, made a series of broadcasts intended to incite violence and killings.
“From the uncontroverted evidence, it is clear that the defendant carried out a preparatory act of terrorism. He had the duty to explain himself but failed to do so,” Justice Omotosho held.
The judgement was delivered without Kanu present in the courtroom.
The judge explained that this decision was a consequence of Kanu’s “aggressiveness and unruliness.”
Despite multiple appeals from the bench for the defendant to comport himself, Kanu “in his usual manner, refused.”
“Nobody is above the law. If we allow people to act how they please, it will our rule the sanctity of the court,” the judge stated, noting that Kanu’s unruly behavior was not new.
Justice Omotosho also highlighted that the defendant “deliberately refused to call any witness,” a move he described as “a gamble and a risky action.”
The conviction relates to count one of a seven-count terrorism charge brought by the Federal Government against the IPOB leader.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
