Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an online report alleging that Justice James Omotosho survived an assassination attempt following his decision to sentence Nnamdi Kanu to life imprisonment.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement on Sunday by Sulaiman Hassan, the chief registrar, the court said it became aware of the claim after it was published by a blog.
It described the post as completely false and unfounded, noting that it was fake news aimed at deceiving the public and undermining trust in the judiciary.
The court said, “The public is advised to treat this publication as fake news and refrain from further dissemination to prevent the spread of misinformation.”
The judiciary expressed concern that such fabrications could spark fear, weaken confidence in judicial processes, and potentially serve as an attempt to intimidate judges.
It also urged security and regulatory bodies to trace and prosecute those responsible for circulating the false report.
The statement added, “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.”
The court encouraged Nigerians to verify any information especially reports relating to judicial proceedings — before sharing.
