Alleged Assassination Attempt on Judge Who Sentenced Nnamdi Kanu: Court speaks

The Federal High Court has dismissed as fake news a viral social media report alleging that Justice James Omotosho survived an assassination attempt days after sentencing the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life imprisonment.

The false claim, circulated by a Facebook blogger, alleged that unknown assailants attacked the judge on Saturday morning, forcing him to be rushed to the hospital.

In a statement on Sunday, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Sulaiman Hassan, described the publication as “baseless, misleading, and aimed at causing panic.”

Titled “Rebuttal to False Publication by ‘Celebrity Blogger’ on the Alleged Assassination Attempt on Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court,” the statement urged Nigerians to disregard the report.

“The attention of the Federal High Court has been drawn to a publication alleging that Justice James Omotosho survived an assassination attempt following the life sentence imposed on Nnamdi Kanu. We hereby firmly and unequivocally declare that the said report is completely false and unfounded,” the statement read.

The court warned the public against circulating the misinformation, stressing that such fabrications could erode trust in the judiciary.

Hassan further called on security agencies to investigate the origin of the false report and prosecute those responsible.

“Given the gravity of the report, which has the potential to cause panic and undermine confidence in the judicial system—possibly intended as a form of intimidation—we call on relevant security agencies and regulatory authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute the perpetrators in accordance with the law,” he added.

Justice Omotosho had on Thursday convicted Kanu on terrorism charges and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He commuted the death penalties attached to five of the seven counts, stating that although he had the legal power to impose them, he chose leniency.

“As a Christian, I chose to be merciful,” he said, citing Matthew 23:23.

Kanu received life imprisonment on counts one, two, four, five and six; 20 years without an option of fine on count three; and five years without an option of fine on count seven, with counts three and seven to run concurrently.

The court also ordered that Kanu be kept in protective custody outside the Kuje Correctional Centre and restricted from accessing digital devices unless monitored by the Office of the National Security Adviser. His radio transmitter was forfeited to the Federal Government, with the DSS permitted to seek forfeiture of additional exhibits after the 90-day appeal window.

Describing Kanu as “unruly” and “not remorseful,” Justice Omotosho said the IPOB leader had “a tendency of violence and it has not left him.”