Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu has been forcibly removed from the Federal High Court in Abuja after a disruptive outburst halted proceedings, prompting Justice James Omotosho to continue his terrorism trial in absentia.

Midway through the hearing, Kanu erupted, declaring, “This court cannot deliver any judgment,” and refused to maintain decorum despite repeated warnings. Security operatives escorted him out, allowing Justice Omotosho to dismiss three fresh motions on jurisdiction, bail, and a final address as “unmeritorious.” The judge then proceeded with the seven-count indictment under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.

Kanu, extradited from Kenya in 2021, has faced charges stemming from his 2015 arrest for treasonable felony, his 2017 bail jump after a military raid on his Abia home, and subsequent broadcasts advocating Biafran secession. Re-arraigned in March 2025, he pleaded not guilty but declined to open his defense, leading to foreclosure of his case on November 7. He argues that the repeal of the Terrorism Act and Supreme Court directives invalidated the trial, but Omotosho ruled there was no denial of fair hearing.

The case has spanned a decade, marked by appellate twists including a 2022 Appeal Court discharge overturned by the Supreme Court in 2023. It has fueled unrest in the South-East, where IPOB’s sit-at-home orders and violent enforcement have claimed thousands of lives since 2021. On November 18, forty-four House members petitioned President Bola Tinubu to release Kanu as a political solution to ease tensions.

Proceedings continued under Section 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which permits delivery of judgment in absentia. The court is currently in session as the Judge reads the deatiled judgement. This is a developing story.