The federal government, through its lead counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, requested the death penalty for Nnamdi Kanu shortly after he was found guilty on all seven terrorism-related charges brought against him.
The application came as the prosecution argued that Kanu’s actions had led to the death of several security operatives and the destruction of public infrastructure.
The government alleged that both the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), which Kanu identified, had taken deliberate steps to destabilize the country. Awomolo insisted that imposing the maximum sentence was the only way to deliver justice to the victims of Kanu’s alleged terrorist activities.
He explained that while counts 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 of the charges prescribed the death penalty, count 3 attracted 20 years of imprisonment, and count 7 carried a five-year jail term. Awomolo urged the court to consider “the nature and gravity of acts of terrorism committed by the convict against innocent Nigerians in the Southeast.”
The prosecution also highlighted that Kanu had shown no remorse for his offences, describing his conduct before the court as marked by arrogance. Additionally, the federal government asked the court to order the forfeiture of all broadcast equipment seized from Kanu and to restrict his access to digital devices and internet facilities while serving his sentence.
Awomolo further recommended that Kanu should not be held at Kuje prison in Abuja due to past security breaches, suggesting alternative detention arrangements to ensure his safety. The court also heard a plea from Hon. Obinna Aguocha, member of the House of Representatives for Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South, who urged the judiciary to temper justice with mercy.
The case marked the conclusion of a trial that lasted over ten years, bringing a decisive end to one of Nigeria’s most high-profile terrorism prosecutions. The court adjourned the matter for sentencing later in the day, leaving the final judgment pending.
