Lawyers representing Nnamdi Kanu have rejected the Federal High Court judgment that sentenced the IPOB leader to life imprisonment, insisting the ruling is fundamentally flawed and will not stand.
Speaking to journalists shortly after Justice James Omotosho delivered the verdict on Friday, counsel Aloy Ejimakor who was in court as a legal consultant confirmed that the defence team will head straight to the Court of Appeal.
Ejimakor questioned the legal basis of the conviction, arguing that no individual should be sentenced to life imprisonment based solely on spoken words.
“We are heading to the Court of Appeal. What kind of precedent is being set here” he told reporters.
He stressed that the appellate court which he described as the only court that effectively sits as a jury would examine the proceedings of the High Court with fresh eyes.
“We are confident their lordships at the Court of Appeal will see today’s judgment for what it is, an open display of judicial miscarriage that many already suspected” he said.
Ejimakor added that the legal battle would continue even beyond the appellate court if necessary.
“If the Court of Appeal does not agree with us, we will proceed to the Supreme Court. Nnamdi Kanu will not remain convicted. This judgment will be overturned” he said.
He criticized the basis of the sentencing, saying it hinged on pronouncements attributed to Kanu rather than any proven violent action.
“This is the first time I have seen anyone convicted for mere statements, words from the mouth, not actions of the hand” he said. “The verdict does not align with the evidence presented. The sentence is excessive, harsh and completely disproportionate.”
Ejimakor also noted that the alleged broadcast cited in the judgment had no proven link to any act of violence.
“How do you sentence a man for making a broadcast from an unspecified location with no connection to any incident, not even a slap, let alone terrorism” he asked.
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