Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, has strongly criticized the life imprisonment sentence handed to her husband by the Federal High Court in Abuja. She described the judgment as a “travesty of justice” and accused Justice James Omotosho of ignoring constitutional requirements .
Allegations of Judicial Misconduct
Uchechi Okwu-Kanu raised several concerns about the trial’s conduct, including:
– Failure to Read Written Law: The judge failed to read out the written law under which Kanu was being tried, despite her husband’s request.
– Scripted Judgment: She alleged that Justice Omotosho read from a prepared script, struggling to pronounce some words, and appeared to be unfamiliar with the judgment.
– Denial of Fair Trial: Kanu was allegedly forced to take a plea under a law he didn’t recognize, which he refused.
– Lack of Written Rulings: The judge refused to issue written rulings on serious applications, instead reading and counting thousands of lines without delivering proper judgments.
Constitutional Implications
Uchechi Okwu-Kanu emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution requires that a person shall not be convicted of a criminal offense unless the offense is clearly defined and the penalty prescribed in a written law. She argued that Justice Omotosho’s actions violated this constitutional provision.
Next Steps
Kanu’s legal team is expected to announce its next steps, potentially including an appeal of the conviction and sentence. The case has sparked concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in Nigeria.
Follow-up questions:
What are the potential grounds for appeal in Nnamdi Kanu’s case? How might the outcome of this case impact the IPOB movement and its supporters?