The IPOB member sentenced to 20 years in prison is Paul Okechukwu, who was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja for belonging to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Justice Hauwa Yilwa delivered the judgment on Thursday after Okechukwu pleaded guilty to one of the two charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
The defendant, who hails from Nnewi South in Anambra State, pleaded not guilty to the second charge, which accused him of participating in an attack that killed two security operatives.
Why the IPOB Member Was Sentenced
According to the prosecution, Okechukwu belonged to IPOB in Imo State in 2021. The government charged him under Section 16 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The second charge alleged that he took part in an attack that resulted in the deaths of two security personnel. However, the court struck out that charge after Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, withdrew it.
Fagbemi, who led the prosecution, subsequently applied for a witness from the Department of State Services (DSS) to review relevant facts of the case under Section 72 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act, 2022.
The witness, identified as “ABC” during the trial, identified Okechukwu as an IPOB member and said he was part of the team that investigated him. The witness also tendered an investigation report, which the court admitted as evidence.
Court Orders 20-Year Jail Term
Fagbemi urged the court to convict Okechukwu, arguing that the law prescribed a minimum sentence of 20 years for the offence.
After the prosecution’s application, Okechukwu reportedly broke down in tears and appealed to the court for mercy.
However, Justice Yilwa found him guilty of belonging to the proscribed organisation and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
The judge said the court considered the charge and its wider implications for the country before delivering the sentence.
She ordered that Okechukwu be held in a correctional facility selected by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service. The court also directed that his sentence should run from the date of his arrest.
In addition, the judge ordered that the convict undergo rehabilitation and deradicalisation after completing his prison term.