The Federal High Court has issued a strong denial against circulating social media reports claiming an assassination attempt on Justice James Omotosho, the judge who recently sentenced Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment.
Court Issues Official Rebuttal
In an official statement released on Sunday, the Federal High Court firmly dismissed allegations that Justice Omotosho survived an assassination attempt. The court's Chief Registrar, Sulaiman Hassan, described the reports as completely false and unfounded in a document titled "Rebuttal to False Publication by 'Celebrity Blogger' on the Alleged Assassination Attempt on Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court."
The controversial social media claim emerged just days after Justice Omotosho's landmark ruling on Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). According to the false report circulating online, the judge was allegedly attacked on Saturday morning, November 22, and rushed to hospital while security operatives secured the area.
Background: Kanu's Sentencing Details
The context of this fake news stems from Justice Omotosho's recent judgment involving Nnamdi Kanu. The judge had commuted Kanu's death sentence to life imprisonment on seven counts of terrorism offences. Specifically, Justice Omotosho handed down life imprisonment for counts one, two, four, five, and six, which originally carried the death penalty.
For count three, relating to offences of belonging to a proscribed terrorist group, Kanu received a 20-year sentence without the option of a fine. Count seven, involving unlawful importation of a radio transmitter for Radio Biafra, attracted a five-year sentence, which runs concurrently with count three.
Court Calls for Investigation and Prosecution
The Federal High Court has taken the false publication seriously, urging relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation. Chief Registrar Hassan emphasized that the report has the potential to cause panic and undermine confidence in the judicial system, possibly intended as a form of intimidation against the judiciary.
The court has called for the identification and apprehension of the perpetrators responsible for this false report, demanding their prosecution in accordance with Nigerian laws, particularly those relating to cybercrime, defamation, and public misinformation.
Meanwhile, as the court prepared to deliver its ruling in the high-profile case, Kanu had insisted that proceedings could not continue because he had not yet filed his final written address. The Federal High Court's strong response to the fake news demonstrates its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judicial process and protecting its officials from malicious misinformation campaigns.
