By Atoyebi Nike
The family of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has faulted the Federal High Court judgment that sentenced him to life imprisonment, insisting the ruling contradicts constitutional provisions and earlier judicial decisions.
In a statement signed by Emmanuel Kanu on Monday, the Okwu Kanu family said it received the verdict of Justice James Omotosho “with heavy hearts,” arguing that the court ignored vital legal issues raised during the hearings. They referenced Section 36(12) of the Constitution and previous Supreme Court pronouncements on repealed laws, stressing that “no person shall be convicted unless the offense is defined in a written law in force at the time.”
The family also questioned the use of a transition or savings clause by the court, arguing that it does not apply to Kanu’s situation. According to them, the Court of Appeal had already discharged and acquitted Kanu, which they said terminated the earlier charges. They maintained that the case before Justice Omotosho constituted “a new matter starting afresh” and therefore could not be revived through any savings clause.
Reaffirming that constitutional rights cannot be overridden, the family said the judgment raised concerns about Kanu’s right to be tried only under existing laws, to know the specific charges against him, and not to be convicted under repealed provisions. “No statute can supersede the Constitution. No judge can override the Supreme Court,” the statement added.
Their reaction follows last week’s ruling in which Justice Omotosho convicted Kanu on all seven charges related to terrorism, sentencing him to life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five, and six. The court also imposed 20 years for count three and five years for count seven, both without an option of fine.
The family urged authorities to respect constitutional limits and ensure that all ongoing processes align with established legal procedures.
