Federal High Court To Deliver Verdict In Nnamdi Kanu’s Absence As Judge Orders Him Out Of Courtroom

Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the terrorism trial of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, has stated that a judgment may be delivered even if the defendant is absent due to unruly behavior.

The judge made the statement after Nnamdi Kanu was escorted out of the courtroom on Thursday for challenging one of the rulings.

Justice Omotosso had ordered security agents to bundle Nnamdi Kanu, out of the courtroom, after he insisted that judgement would not be delivered in the terrorism charge the Federal Government entered against him.

Kanu had, among other things, prayed the court to grant him bail and urged the court to allow him more time to file his final written address.

This followed counter-motions filed by the prosecution counsel, Awomolo, SAN, in reply to Kanu’s first and second motions, insisting that Kanu’s motion for bail was an abuse of court process.

Awomolo further urged the court to dismiss the three motions filed by Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice Omotosho subsequently dismissed Kanu’s request for a stay of proceedings and refused him bail.

The court also dismissed Kanu’s motion for more time to file his final written address.

Justice Omotosho frowned at Kanu’s unruly behaviour, insisting that the court as an institution must be respected.

“The sanctity of the temple of justice must be respected,” he said.

“By judicial precedence, if a defendant becomes unruly, a verdict can be given in his absence.”