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In this courtroom drawing, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab appears in U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds' courtroom in Detroit, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011. Abdulmutallab lost an appeal challenging his sentence for attempting to blow up an airliner over Detroit.

(AP Photo)

LANSING -- A Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld the conviction of a Nigerian man given four life sentences for his attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight on its way to Detroit.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was one of 289 passengers on a Christmas Day flight in 2009 from Amsterdam to Detroit when he attempted to ignite explosives concealed in his underwear as the plane made its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

The explosive failed, catching fire and injuring only Abdulmutallab before pilots landed the plane and authorities took him into custody. He was later tried for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and other charges.

Abdulmutallab chose to represent himself during the trial, saying he felt receiving representation from a federal public defender would not be in his best interest, according to court records. After one day of the trial, he entered a guilty plea to all eight counts in the indictment and was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences plus 30 years and 240 months.

In an appeal, Abdulmutallab challenged the court's decision to allow him to represent himself, as well as the admission of several statements he gave while being treated at University of Michigan Hospital, his competency to enter his guilty plea and whether or not his sentences were constitutional.

The appeals court said the trial court was not obligated to conduct a competency hearing before accepting Abdulmutallab's plea, saying the pretrial record indicated he was able to assist in his own defense before entering the plea.

Similarly, the appeals court rejected Abdulmutallab's claim that a competency hearing should have been ordered before allowing him to proceed without an attorney, citing the fact that standby counsel appointed by the trial court to assist Abdulmutallab took part in the vast majority of proceedings prior to his guilty plea.

The court dismissed his challenge to the admission of statements he gave while hospitalized, saying Abdulmutallab lost the right to challenge the admission when he pleaded guilty.

"We will not address the merits of Abdulmutallab’s argument, as he waived any right to challenge the suppression of his statements when he entered the guilty plea," Judge David McKeague wrote in the unanimous opinion.

The court also concluded the sentences Abdulmutallab received were within the boundaries of federal law and the U.S. constitution.

"Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate a bomb on a plane with 289 passengers. He may have been the only person harmed, but that is only because his bomb failed to properly work. These facts, and the fact that Abdulmutallab’s sentence was within the guideline range and proportional, inform this court that his sentence is not 'cruel and unusual' punishment," McKeague wrote.

Brian Smith is the statewide education and courts reporter for MLive. Email him at bsmith11@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.