Olayiwola Matthew
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on one count of terrorism-related charges brought by the Federal Government.
The court ruled that Kanu’s broadcasts were intended to incite violence and promote killings, furthering his separatist agenda for Biafra, and found sufficient evidence to convict him on the charge.
Trial Justice James Omotosho based his decision on what he described as “uncontroverted evidence” that was adduced before the court by the prosecution.
Omotosho had last month fixed November 20 for judgment in the charge brought against Kanu by the federal government.
However, at the commencement of Thursday’s proceedings, Kanu objected to the delivery of judgment, pointing to several motions he filed before the court as well as a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Just like previous court sittings the IPOB leader also insisted that proceedings cannot go on until the court present a valid charge against him, adding that the charge against him before the court has already been repealed, and as such he cannot be tried.
Responding, the judge overruled him and moved to deliver his judgment, a development which angered Kanu, causing him to raise his voice in court challenging his continued trial.
He claimed that the judge was biased against him, adding that the judge did not know the law.
At that point, the judge ordered that Kanu be removed from the courtroom and proceeds to deliver his judgment.