22nd November 2025
On a humid Thursday morning in Abuja, the atmosphere inside the Federal High Court was unusually tense.
Security operatives from the Department of State Services and the courtroom security, alongside lawyers, journalists, and a few friends and family of the defendant, were present in the courtroom.
In the witness box, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was standing, awaiting the court’s decision regarding the 10-year-long trial on terrorism-related charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
As soon as the judge made his entrance and sat on his chair, Kanu yelled, “There is no judgment here today. There is not going to be judgment here.”
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, however, responded by calling for decorum. He asked Kanu to wait for the case to be called before making any arguments.
After the case was called, Justice Omotosho addressed applications filed before the court and delivered a ruling dismissing three fresh motions filed by Kanu on the ground that they were unmeritorious.
After delivering the ruling, Justice Omotosho declared readiness to proceed with the judgment.
However, Kanu interjected, insisting that the court could not continue because he had not filed his final written address.
The defendant suddenly erupted in anger, charged at the trial judge, and accused him of being biased and not knowing the law, among other utterances.
Kanu said, “Which law states that you can charge me on a repealed law? Show me. Omotosho, where is the law? Show me the clause in the Constitution that says so. Show me, but you can’t show me, and you claim to be a judge. Any judgment declared in this court is complete rubbish! You don’t know the law.”
At this point, the court froze, and surprise was registered on the faces of the journalists who looked up from their notepads.
The trial judge momentarily paused.
Kanu’s rage did not allow the proceedings to continue as he would not let the judge speak.
Of course, the judge could not engage in a shouting match with him, so the court rose, and Justice Omotosho went into his chamber.
0 Comments