Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja has found Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) guilty of terrorism.
Kanu was found guilty of terrorism, among other charges brought against him by the federal government in an amended charge instituted in 2021.
Justice James Omotosho
Kanu walks out of court , after being found guilty of terrorism charges
The federal government had filed a seven-count amended charge, including terrorism and treasonable felony, against Kanu.
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During the reading of the guilty judgment by the trial judge, Justice Omotosho on Thursday November 11, it was held that Kanu’s comments, such as “people will die,” which are said to be done with malice and capable of destabilizing and causing an attack on a person’s life, which may cause bodily harm, etc., can be classified as acts of terrorism; hence, he was found guilty on counts 1 (terrorism), 2 (threats enforcing illegal sit-at-home order), and 3 (acts of terrorism by making broadcasts threatening that anyone who flouts his sit-at-home order will die).
The trial, which was broadcast live on national television, showed the defendant while being led out of the court, turning around, looking at the judge, and echoing, “God will punish you now and forever; let it be on record, any judgment ruled in this court is rubbish! Ask him, where is the law? Ask Omotosho, where is the law! where is the law?? ”
As part of the ruling by Justice Omotosho, Kanu was given every opportunity to defend himself, but he declined.
On the issue of Kanu’s alleged illegal rendition back to Nigeria from Kenya, the court held that extradition works among countries that are parties to the treaty.
It would be recalled that proceedings at the Federal High Court took an unexpected turn earlier today when the presiding judge, Justice Omotosho, ordered the removal of Kanu from the courtroom over what he described as “unruly behavior.”
The incident followed a tense exchange in which Kanu repeatedly challenged the court’s decision to proceed without allowing him to present a final written address.
A viral video circulating online showed the IPOB leader insisting that he had not waived his constitutional right to make the address.
“A final written address is my constitutional right, and my lord, I have not waived that right,” Kanu insisted.
“I must be allowed to address the court on all the issues.”
The confrontation escalated as Kanu continued to interrupt the court, prompting multiple attempts by Justice Omotosho to caution him before he was finally removed from the court by men of the Department of State Security (DSS).
Justice Omotosho, who rose and announced that the court would reconvene, however, noted that the court would proceed to deliver judgment in the absence of the defendant, adding that “nobody is above the law and fundamental rights are not absolute.”
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