- Safiu Kehinde
A mild drama has on Friday erupted at the Federal High Court in Abuja as embattled leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, abused the court following its announcement of the judgement day over Kanu’s ongoing trial.
Kanu had appeared before the court on Friday for the presentation of his defence in his trial on alleged terrorism.
The IPOB leader who had opted to defend himself after sacking his lawyers had in past hearing failed to present his defence since the conclusion of the prosector’s case.
Meanwhile, a video which surfaced online showed a visibly enraged Kanu slamming the court after its setting of November 20 as the judgement day.
As captured in the video, the IPOB leader could be seen kicking the court room’s chair while yelling towards the jury.
Kanu labelled the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, and others in court “useless black African people” as he argued that his trial was illegal.
“You don’t know what justice means. Useless black African people. Your constitution says you cannot try anybody unless the law is written. Show me the written law.
“Useless people. You don’t know law. Your own constitution you don’t respect. Supreme Court’s judgement, you don’t respect.” the enraged IPOB leader said.
According to reports, Justice Omotosho had announced the judgement day after Kanu failed again to open his defence having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence.
The presiding judge held that Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity granted him to conduct his defence, cannot claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed rights to fair hearing.