The Federal High Court in Abuja witnessed heightened tension on Thursday after Justice James Omotosho directed security personnel to remove the detained IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, from the courtroom over persistent disruptions during the scheduled delivery of judgement in his terrorism case.
Before the incident, the court dismissed a series of fresh applications filed by Kanu, ruling that the issues raised had been previously adjudicated. Justice Omotosho emphasized that the defence’s attempt to delay the process contravened Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which prohibits any form of stay of proceedings in criminal matters.
The court further declined Kanu’s latest bail request, noting that any legitimate concerns raised would be addressed within the final judgement.
Tensions rose as the judge began to read the judgement. Kanu objected strongly, insisting that the court lacked jurisdiction to proceed without considering his written address. His repeated protest led the presiding judge to order his removal to allow the court continue its proceedings without obstruction.
The development marks yet another dramatic turn in the long-running trial that has drawn national and international attention.
