The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed as fake news a report claiming Justice James Omotosho narrowly escaped an assassination attempt following his sentencing of Nnamdi Kanu.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has debunked an online report alleging that Justice James Omotosho narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after sentencing IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment, describing the claim as “completely false and unfounded”.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Chief Registrar Sulaiman Hassan, the court said the publication was “fake news” deliberately crafted to mislead the public and erode trust in the judiciary.
It warned that such fabricated stories could incite panic and potentially form part of an attempt to intimidate judicial officers.
The court urged security and regulatory agencies to identify and prosecute those behind the report, stating, “We call on the relevant security agencies and regulatory authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute them in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, particularly those relating to cybercrime, defamation, and public misinformation.”
It also appealed to the public to verify information before sharing, especially on sensitive judicial matters. Justice Omotosho had on November 20 sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment after convicting him on terrorism charges.