Judge Orders Nnamdi Kanu Dragged Out During Trial

Trial Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered security operatives to bundle out the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, after he repeatedly insisted that judgement would not be delivered in the terrorism case filed against him by the Federal Government.

Justice Omotosho issued the directive after Kanu disrupted proceedings as the court prepared to deliver judgement in the long-running terrorism charge.

Earlier in the session, the court dismissed new motions filed by Kanu, noting that they raised issues that had already been addressed in previous proceedings. Justice Omotosho held that the attempt to halt the judgement lacked merit and violated Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits stay of proceedings in criminal trials.

The court also refused Kanu’s latest request for bail. Justice Omotosho stated that some of the concerns raised in the motions would be considered during the final judgement.

However, as the judge began to read the judgement, Kanu stood his ground and protested loudly, insisting that the court lacked jurisdiction to proceed without admitting his written address.

He shouted repeatedly that the court could not decide the case until the address was accepted, prompting Justice Omotosho to order security agents to remove him from the courtroom.