Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, wife of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, has strongly condemned her husband’s life imprisonment sentence, calling it illegal, biased, and a miscarriage of justice.
In a statement shared on social media, Uchechi accused Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja of ignoring constitutional safeguards, inventing evidence, and deliberately blocking Kanu’s right to a fair hearing.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment for declaring a “sit-at-home” order in the South-East, which the court claimed was enforced through threats and violence.
The court also imposed concurrent sentences of 20 and five years on additional counts. Justice Omotosho, citing international concerns over capital punishment, opted against the death penalty.
Uchechi criticized the trial for multiple procedural breaches, stating that the charges were based on the now-repealed Terrorism Act of 2013 rather than the 2022 Act.
She said, “The judge knew the old law was dead but forced Kanu to plead under it. Charging someone under a law that no longer exists is illegal and void.”
She further accused the judge of inventing evidence, claiming allegations about Kanu plotting to bomb the British and US embassies during EndSARS were fabricated, with no witness ever testifying to such claims in court.
Uchechi also condemned the misuse of the “savings clause,” emphasizing that a repealed law cannot override the Constitution.
She highlighted the court’s failure to address international law requirements, noting there was no evidence, report, or witness from Kenya to substantiate claims of crimes allegedly committed there.
Concluding her statement, she said, “The judge didn’t follow the law, the Constitution, or due process.
“He used a dead law, invented evidence, blocked the defendant’s right to speak, and delivered a judgment that cannot stand.”
The verdict is illegal and will not survive appeal. It exposes the judge to disciplinary action.”
