Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court has explained why he declined to impose the de@th sentence on Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice Omotosho, while delivering his sentence on the Abia-born IPOB leader, said that he was moved to temper justice with mercy.
Quoting a portion of the book of Matthew, Justice Omotosho pointed out that Jesus Christ taught His followers to show mercy.
He said that the sentence for Nnamdi Kanu was the de@th penalty but that he had to show mercy because of the teachings of the Holy Book.
He also mentioned that the international community now frowns upon de@th sentences, adding that if not for this, the IPOB leader deserved to die.
Omotosho handed down the judgment on Thursday following a landmark ruling in the trial of the IPOB leader.
The judge had earlier convicted Kanu on all seven counts of terrorism brought against him by the Department of State Services.
In his judgment, the judge stated that the prosecution presented sufficient and credible evidence to prove its case.
He noted that Kanu failed to enter a defence, instead choosing to rest his case on the prosecution’s evidence—a gamble the court said left it with no option but to convict.
The judge criticised Kanu’s approach to achieving a Biafra nation through violence, characterising it as the action of a terrorist group.
