Judge orders Kanu removed from courtroom after outburst stalls terrorism trial

Tensions flared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday when Trial Justice James Omotosho ordered security operatives to escort the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, out of the courtroom following a heated outburst that disrupted proceedings.

The drama unfolded as Kanu repeatedly insisted that the court could not deliver judgment in the terrorism case brought against him by the Federal Government without allowing him to file a written address. His persistent shouts demanding that the judge show him the legal basis for the denial forced Justice Omotosho to pause proceedings, allowing security personnel to remove him from the room.

Earlier, the court had dismissed a set of fresh motions filed by Kanu, ruling that they raised issues already decided in previous applications. Justice Omotosho also rejected the IPOB leader’s request to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal, citing Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which prohibits a stay of proceedings in criminal trials.

The court further declined Kanu’s bail application, noting that aspects of his arguments would be addressed in the final judgment.

However, as Justice Omotosho prepared to begin delivering the long-awaited judgment, Kanu disrupted the session again, insisting the court lacked jurisdiction to proceed without accepting his written address—an action that ultimately led to his removal from the courtroom.