HAPPENING NOW: Court delivers judgement in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja is currently delivering judgment in the alleged terrorism trial of the leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice James Omotosho is currently reading the judgement on live broadcast being monitored by Tribune Online.

Cameramen from different television stations, including NTA, Channels TV, AIT and TVC, were among the broadcast personnel in the courtroom with their equipment for the live transmission.

Tribune Online reports that Justice James Omotosho had, on 7 November, fixed today for judgment.

Justice Omotosho fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under repealed laws.

Justice Omotosho held that Kanu, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, had waived his right to do so.

The judge said he would have extended the days allocated to Kanu to conduct his defence if he had opted to open it.

He said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity given to him to conduct his defence, could not claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.

While reading the judgment, the judge listed the allegation against Kanu to include founding the IPOB, with his followers, to agitate for secession in Nigeria and founding of Radio Biafra to incite people and cause unrest in the country. 

Kanu removed from courtroom

Earlier, Justice Omotosho ordered Kanu to be removed from the courtroom after he became unruly midway into proceedings.

The judge had ruled and dismissed three fresh motions filed by the IPOB leader after the case was adjourned for judgment and dismissed them for being unmeritorious.

As the judge moved to deliver the ruling, Kanu argued that the court could not proceed because he was yet to file his final written address.

Raising his voice, Kanu accused the trial judge of being biased and claimed that the judge did not know the law.

Kanu has since been moved out of the courtroom, while judge is preparing to read the final judgment.

Detail later…