The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday as the judge prepared to deliver the long-awaited judgment in his terrorism trial.
Naijaonpoint reports that Nigerians are following the proceedings closely, with the judgment being transmitted live on television.
Cameramen from different television stations, including NTA, Channels TV, AIT, and TVC, were among the broadcast station workers in the courtroom with their equipment for the live transmission.
Upon entering the courtroom, Kanu openly addressed the court, insisting that no judgment could hold because he had filed fresh motions and processes.
“There is no judgment as I have filed my processes,” he said, adding that he had submitted a notice of motion at the Court of Appeal, which, according to him, should halt the day’s proceedings.
He then identified and referenced the notices he said were already before the appellate court.
Justice James Omotosho began the day’s sitting by taking appearances of counsel, emphasising that decorum must be maintained throughout the session.
The judge noted that despite the tension surrounding the matter, the court would proceed in line with due process.
Kanu’s Years-Long Trial Nears Crucial Decision
The judgment marks a major milestone in one of Nigeria’s most controversial legal battles.
Kanu was first arrested in 2015 and charged with treasonable felony and terrorism-related offences. In 2017, he fled the country while on bail following a military raid at his home during Operation Python Dance in the South-East.
He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 and brought back to Nigeria in what his lawyers describe as an “extraordinary rendition.” Since then, the charges against him have expanded to 15 counts.
Kanu’s legal team has consistently argued that the trial is invalid due to alleged violations of international extradition laws, constitutional rights and jurisdictional rules.
They claim that both procedural and substantive legal errors undermine the case, insisting that the court lacks the grounds to deliver judgment.
Despite these objections, the court has pushed ahead with hearings, with today’s sitting expected to determine whether Kanu walks free or continues to face the charges against him.
As the Federal High Court prepares to rule, security remains tight around the court premises.
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