Dare Babalola
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal HighCourt, Abuja, has ruled that judgment in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial will proceed without him, stating that the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra’s (IPOB) refusal to participate in proceedings won’t stall the verdict.
Justice Omotosho ruled on Thursday that Kanu’s trial will proceed in his absence, despite what he described as the IPOB leader’s unruly behavior in court.
The judge had earlier ordered the IPOB leader to be removed from the courtroom after he became unruly midway through proceedings on Thursday.
Justice Omotosho dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu, deeming them unmeritorious, and proceeded with the trial despite Kanu’s absence.
As the judge moved to deliver the ruling earlier, scheduled for Thursday, November 20, Kanu argued that the court could not proceed because he had yet to file his final written address.
Raising his voice, Kanu accused Omotosho of being biased and claimed that the judge did not know the law.
Kanu was later moved out of the courtroom, while the judge proceeded to deliver the final judgment in his absence.
On his way out, the IPOB founder lost his cool, shouted at the judge, saying, “Any judgment you do in this court is rubbish, ask him where is the law, ask Omotoso where is the law?”
