By Oluwatoyin Makinde
A dramatic scene unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday when Justice James Omotosho ordered security operatives to eject the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, from the courtroom over what he described as unruly conduct.
Trouble began after the judge dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu, including a request for a stay of proceedings, a referral of issues to the Court of Appeal, and an application for bail. The court held that many of the issues had been previously ruled on and that Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act prohibits the stay of proceedings in criminal trials.
As the court moved to begin delivering judgment, Kanu raised his voice, insisting that proceedings could not continue because he had not been allowed to file his final written address. He accused Justice Omotosho of bias and claimed the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
“My lord, you are biased, this is not law, you don’t know what you are doing,” Kanu shouted from the dock, insisting that the Supreme Court had previously ruled that count seven of the charge against him was defective.
The outburst prompted Justice Omotosho to briefly stand down the case, directing security agents to take Kanu out of the courtroom. As he was escorted out, Kanu continued shouting and turned to the prosecution counsel, saying, “God will punish you.”
After calm was restored, the judge ruled that due to the defendant’s conduct, the judgment and subsequent proceedings would continue in his absence.
Kanu, who has been in DSS custody since his re-arrest in Kenya in 2021, is facing terrorism-related charges. He was first arrested in 2015 for alleged treasonable felony and later fled the country in 2017 after the military invasion of his Abia home.
The matter has been adjourned for continuation of judgment delivery.
