HURIWA Faults Kanu Verdict, Says Judge Ignored Key Legal Issues
By MELVIN KOFFA
THE Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sentenced IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment for alleged terrorism.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said the ruling was a miscarriage of justice, arguing that the judge ignored major constitutional and procedural issues raised by Kanu. The group noted that Kanu objected to being tried under the repealed Terrorism Prevention Act 2013 and insisted that the court lacked jurisdiction because related appeals were still pending.
HURIWA accused the judge of rushing to judgment despite Kanu’s complaints that the charges were invalid, the prosecution failed to respond to his applications, and the trial relied on a non-existent law. It said the court violated fair-hearing provisions and failed to address jurisdictional questions that should have been settled before any verdict.
The association added that Justice Omotosho wrongly concluded Kanu refused to defend himself, arguing that the defendant merely insisted that the court first rule on the legality of the charges. HURIWA called the verdict fundamentally flawed and urged the National Judicial Council and the Court of Appeal to review and overturn the ruling.
