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Nnamdi Kanu: Alleged Order to Bomb US, Uk Embassies, Omotosho’s ‘Manufactured Lie’ – Group
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A coalition of rights activists has faulted the verdict delivered by Justice James Omotosho of the Abuja Federal High Court in the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Justice Omotosho had on Thursday convicted Kanu on terrorism charges brought against him by the Nigerian government and subsequently sentenced him to life imprisonment.
However, a coalition of rights activists, comprising the American Veterans of Igbo Descent, Ambassadors for Self Determination, and the Rising Sun Foundation, in a joint statement on Thursday evening pointed out what they described as a major flaw in the judgment.
While delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho described Kanu as an international terrorist, stating that he ordered attacks on the United States and United Kingdom embassies in Nigeria.
Reacting to the judgment, the activists coalition said the allegation that Kanu ordered attacks on the US and UK embassies was never raised in the charges filed against him, and was also not brought up throughout the proceedings of the trial.
Wondering how the judge arrived at the allegation, the activists described the claim as a manufactured lie that collapsed the judgment against Kanu.
Parts of the statement titled ‘Justice Omotosho’s fictional “bomb plot” against US and UK missions’ read, “We address you today on one central, shocking point in the judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu — the claim that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu planned to bomb the British and United States missions in Nigeria.
“We state openly and without fear of contradiction: This allegation was never charged, never testified to, never tendered in evidence, and never mentioned by any witness in the entire trial. It is a pure invention of the judge, inserted into the judgment to demonise Mazi Nnamdi Kanu before the world and to drive a wedge between him and the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom.”
Stressing that “no witness ever spoke of any bombing plot,” the statement added, “Throughout the proceedings before Justice Omotosho: No charge alleged any plan to bomb US or UK embassies. No prosecution witness testified about any such plot. No document, exhibit, audio, video, or intelligence report was tendered to support such a claim. The defence had no opportunity to cross-examine any witness on this issue, because it never arose in court. Yet, in his judgment, Justice Omotosho casually wrote in this wild story of a supposed plan to bomb the British and American missions. This is not a mistake. It is a fabrication.
“In any criminal justice system worthy of the name, a judge cannot convict an accused person on the basis of stories invented in chambers and not proven in court.”
The activists insisted that the official transcripts of the trial will prove the ‘fabrication.’
The activists added that, to remove any doubt, they have resolved to release to the world the full certified transcripts of everything that transpired in Justice Omotosho’s court.
“Those transcripts will show clearly that no prosecutor, no witness, and no document ever mentioned any threat to US or UK missions. The only people who testified against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu were hired storytellers, and even they did not tell this particular story. The so-called ‘bomb plot’ exists only in the judgment, not in the evidence,” the statement added.
The activists called on the media, members of the diplomatic community, and human rights organisations to read the record themselves “and see how far a Federal High Court judge was prepared to go to justify a conviction without evidence.”
Further faulting the judge’s assertion, the activists noted that the alleged directive to attack the US and UK embassies makes no sense considering Kanu’s pro-US and UK record.
The statement said, “This invented ‘bomb plot’ is not only unsupported, it is absurd on its face. In 2017, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu organised the first and only Trump Solidarity Rally in Igweocha (Port Harcourt), where thousands peacefully marched in open support of the then-US President. In 2020, he personally attended a Trump campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, openly identifying with the American democratic process. These are not the actions of a man plotting to bomb US or UK missions. They are the actions of a man who, rightly or wrongly, sees the United States and the West as allies in the struggle for justice and self-determination.
“For a Nigerian judge to twist this history into a phantom ‘terror plot’ is not only dishonest; it is dangerous. It sends a message to the world that Nigerian courts are willing to weaponise lies against political defendants.”
The statement declared that the judge’s “fabrication” has destroyed the entire judgment.
“Under the Nigerian Constitution and basic common sense, a person can only be convicted on evidence given in court. The offence must be clearly written in a valid law, and the accused must have a fair chance to challenge any allegation. By importing a serious accusation that was never charged, was never proved, and was never put to the accused, Justice Omotosho violated Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s right to fair hearing; turned himself from an impartial judge into a prosecution witness and propagandist; built his judgment on facts that do not exist in the record.
“Once a judge bases a criminal conviction on fabricated, extraneous material, the entire judgment is poisoned. It is legally unsafe, morally bankrupt, and constitutionally void. This single act of fabrication is enough, on its own, to nullify the judgment, justify its reversal on appeal, and trigger serious disciplinary action by the National Judicial Council (NJC),” the statement added.
Stating what the alleged fabrication means for the judiciary, the activists noted that when a judge in a criminal trial descends into the arena of fabrication and lies, the judiciary itself is in trouble.
“This is no longer about one man, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. It is about whether any Nigerian can trust that our courts will decide cases on evidence, not on scripts; judges will respect the record, not rewrite it, and the bench will not be used as a tool to destroy political opponents.
“Justice Omotosho’s conduct sends the worst possible signal, both domestically and internationally. It tells the world that Nigeria’s courts can be used to manufacture ‘terrorists’ on paper while ignoring the actual evidence.”
Vowing that they will not allow the matter to pass quietly, the American Veterans of Igbo Descent, Ambassadors for Self Determination, and the Rising Sun Foundation outlined their next steps.
The next steps include “immediate publication of the full transcripts of proceedings before Justice Omotosho, for Nigerians and the international community to read before they falsify it,” and filing of appropriate appeals challenging the judgment on the ground that it is based on fabricated facts not supported by evidence.
They also plan to petition the National Judicial Council and relevant bodies, “asking them to investigate how such a grave falsehood found its way into a Federal High Court judgment,” and direct engagement with US and UK authorities, providing them with the record of proceedings to show that this alleged ‘bomb plot’ exists only in Justice Omotosho’s imagination.
The activists stressed that “the attempt to paint Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a man who planned to bomb US and UK missions is a fallacy from the pit of propaganda, not from a court of law.”
“It is a stain on the judgment. It is a stain on the court. And unless it is decisively rejected, it will remain a stain on the Nigerian judiciary. We are determined to expose this fabrication in a way Justice Omotosho never imagined possible, with documents, with transcripts, and with the cold, hard truth,” the statement added.
DailyPost
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released the identities of the people who died in the crash involving an NAF ATR 42 aircraft in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State, on Monday.
The aircraft, NAF 931, was carrying five crew members and 20 passengers when it crashed during a routine mission from Benin to Lagos.
In a statement, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF spokesperson, said no survivor had been found following the accident, which prompted the immediate activation of search-and-rescue operations in coordination with relevant authorities.
Those killed include five crew members: Squadron Leader MI Aburime, the flight captain; Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, co-pilot; Flight Lieutenant IS Bako, co-pilot; Warrant Officer Abubakar A, aircraft technician; and Corporal Uguru HC, aircraft technician.
The 20 passengers were identified as Flight Lieutenant TL Lazarus; Flight Lieutenant M Akinloye; Flying Officer IM Adeshina; Master Warrant Officer Onwuka F; Master Warrant Officer Matini BA; Warrant Officer Nuhu FS; Flight Sergeant James RB; Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI; Sergeant Ani AE; Sergeant Izibenikien SI; Sergeant Alafuka C; Sergeant Mbadugha AN; Lance Corporal Ugwuba FC; Lance Corporal Eledan GE; Mrs Ezeh Nneka; Godstmine Tarabina; Joy Micheal; Sunday Micheal; Ukeme David; and Gideon Omotola.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, expressed profound condolences to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those who lost their lives in the crash.
Aneke described the incident as a deeply painful moment for the Nigerian Air Force and the country, while assuring the bereaved families of the Service’s full support during the difficult period.
He has also directed a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Meanwhile, a condolence register has been opened at the Headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force in Abuja for senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, heads of security agencies and other well-wishers wishing to pay their respects and sympathise with the families of the deceased and the NAF.
The statement was signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.
Daily Trust
President Bola Tinubu has declared a three-day national mourning over the Ondo military aircraft crash and is also calling for a probe into the incident.
He also directed that flags should be flown at half-mast throughout the country as a mark of respect to the officers.
In a statement on Monday, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu “extends his deepest condolences to the family of the 25 passengers and seven crew members involved, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and all officers, airmen and airwomen of the Nigerian Air Force.”
A military source confirmed to Channels Television that all 32 persons on board the aircraft died in the crash.
The passenger aircraft was on a “routine mission” from Benin City in southern Nigeria to the economic hub of Lagos when it went down at Igbokoda in Ondo State shortly after 9:00 am (0800 GMT), the President and the Air Force said.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Tinubu was quoted as saying.
“I commend the Nigerian Air Force for activating an immediate Search and Rescue operation following the accident. I pray for the repose of the souls of the gallant officers and for Almighty God to grant their families and the Nigerian Air Force the fortitude to bear the unfortunate loss.
“I assure the Nigerian Air Force of the continued support of our administration as they continue their vital role in securing our nation. I also commend the swift response of first responders and the Ondo State Government at the crash site,” the president said.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2026 edition of its annual awards ceremony will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, on December 7.
The decision was reached at a virtual meeting of the CAF Executive Committee (EXCO), chaired by the organisation’s president, Patrice Motsepe, on Friday, 2 October.
The meeting also approved the CAF Competitions Calendar for 2026–2030, alongside amendments to the regulations governing the continent’s interclub competitions.
Nigeria will host another major CAF event, the organisation’s Ordinary General Assembly, on 21 November.
The 2026 CAF Awards will bring together leading footballers, coaches, clubs and administrators to celebrate outstanding performances in African football.
The ceremony recognises achievements across men’s and women’s football, including the Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Club of the Year categories.
Nigeria has enjoyed considerable success at the awards, particularly in the men’s and women’s Player of the Year categories.
Ademola Lookman won the men’s award in 2024, following Victor Osimhen’s triumph in 2023, making them the first Nigerian pair to secure consecutive victories in the category since Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba achieved the feat in 1996 and 1997, respectively.
The 2024 ceremony, held in Marrakech, Morocco, also saw Nigeria’s Super Falcons named Women’s National Team of the Year, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie received the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
At the 2025 edition held in Rabat, Morocco dominated the ceremony during a historic night in Rabat, with Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) and Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco/Al Hilal) winning the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year awards, respectively.
Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al Hilal) and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion) claimed the Men’s and Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year honours, and Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford) and Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR) were named Men’s and Women’s Young Players of the Year, respectively.
Beyond the awards announcement, the EXCO approved significant changes to the regulations governing the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
Under the revised rules, players will be permitted to represent more than one club during a single CAF interclub season, a change that could provide clubs with greater flexibility in managing their squads.
The committee also approved an increase in the number of players clubs can register, setting the maximum at 40 players at any point during the season.
Clubs will additionally be allowed to replace four players during the final registration window, provided those players have not featured in any CAF interclub match during the season.
Another significant amendment concerns disciplinary proceedings. All disciplinary matters will now be referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board, removing that responsibility from the Interclub Committee.
The changes are expected to influence how clubs approach player recruitment, registration and squad management in continental competitions.
The EXCO also approved the dates for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League, with the final tournament scheduled to run from 1 to 15 November.
The competition, which brings together the leading women’s club sides from across Africa, has become a major platform for the development and visibility of women’s football on the continent.
Nigeria’s Edo Queen’s participation in this year’s competition is presently being challenged following the annulment of their victory at the WAFU B tournament after a protest by Ampem Dakoa.
In another decision, CAF confirmed that Senegal will host the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations from 28 November to 6 December.
The West African country, which won the previous edition, will host the tournament as it seeks to defend its continental title.
