Aloy Ejimakor, counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, has vowed to challenge the life sentence handed down to the IPOB leader by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgement on Thursday, Ejimakor said the defence team would immediately proceed to the Court of Appeal.
Kanu was sentenced to life imprisonment on counts one, four, five and six. He also received 20 years on count three and five years on count seven, with all the sentences set to run concurrently and without an option of a fine.
Ejimakor strongly criticised the ruling, insisting it set a dangerous precedent.
“What kind of precedent is being laid here? We are heading to the court of appeal,” he said.
He argued that the appellate court remains the next legal avenue to scrutinise the decision, adding that he expects the justices to recognise what he described as a miscarriage of justice.
“We are pretty sure the justices will agree with us that today was the symbol of the travesty of justice that everybody has been suspecting.
“If the court of appeal disagrees with us, we head to the supreme court. Nnamdi Kanu is not going to stand convicted; he’s going to get overturned.”
Ejimakor questioned the basis of the conviction, saying it relied on verbal statements rather than concrete actions.
“This is the only day I have witnessed a man being convicted for mere pronouncements, just for what he said from his mouth, not what he did with his own hands.
“The verdict is not consistent with the evidence laid before the court. The sentence is overbroad, cruel and unusual.
“How can you convict a man for making a mere broadcast from a location that was never named, and he never tied that broadcast to any single incident of violence — not even someone slapping someone, not to talk of terrorism?”
He maintained that the defence is confident the conviction will not stand after the appeal process.
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