Nnamdi Kanu appeared in court on November 20, 2025. He leads the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra group. Authorities charged him with terrorism offenses.
Background of the Case
Authorities arrested Kanu in Kenya in 2021. They extradited him to Nigeria on terrorism charges. Kanu challenged the court’s jurisdiction. He also sought transfer from detention to house arrest. Additionally he requested dismissal of the charges against him.
The Court Incident
Justice James Omotosho began delivering the judgment on Thursday. Kanu interrupted suddenly. He shouted that the ruling was rubbish. Moreover he demanded to speak before the judge continued. His actions disrupted the proceedings.
Judge’s Immediate Response
The judge described Kanu’s behavior as unruly. He ordered State Security Service operatives to remove him. Therefore officials ejected Kanu from the courtroom. The judge then halted the judgment briefly.
Continuation of Proceedings
Omotosho ruled to proceed without Kanu. He cited the defendant’s violent conduct. Consequently the court dismissed Kanu’s application for transfer to Kuje prison. It also rejected his house arrest request. Furthermore the judge upheld the terrorism charges.
Reactions and Implications
Lawyers for Kanu demonstrated against the expulsion. This was based on their rights to conduct a fair trial. Nevertheless their objections were discountenanced by the ruling judge. This move attracted anger from his supporters awaiting his case to be heard. At the same time, government officials hailed the ruling as one for maintaining law and order.
Broader Context
This is significant for tensions exuding from Kanu’s case. IPOB is protesting for independence for Biafra. Security agencies link IPOB to violence. This makes it even tougher for Kanu’s appeal to stick. Outlook for appeals is expected to continue being as usual.
