Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the removal of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), from the courtroom after the defendant disrupted proceedings during judgment delivery in his terrorism trial.
The dramatic development occurred as the judge was preparing to deliver the long-awaited verdict in the decade-long case, which is being broadcast live across multiple television stations including Channels TV, AIT, NTA, and TVC.
Justice Omotosho ruled on and dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu after the case had been adjourned for judgment, describing them as unmeritorious. As the judge attempted to proceed with the ruling, Kanu became agitated and protested that the court could not continue because he had not filed his final written address.
Raising his voice, Kanu accused Justice Omotosho of bias and claimed the judge lacked knowledge of the law. The outburst prompted the judge to order security operatives to escort the IPOB leader out of the courtroom.
The court is now proceeding with judgment delivery in Kanu’s absence. Justice Omotosho had fixed November 20 for judgment after the defendant exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence without opening his case.
In his submissions before being removed, Kanu requested in one of his motions that the court refer his case to the Court of Appeal. He argued that the court had wrongly waived his right to file a written address before scheduling judgment.
During the proceedings, Justice Omotosho outlined the charges against Kanu, which include founding IPOB with his followers to agitate for Nigeria’s secession and establishing Radio Biafra to incite people and cause unrest in the country.