Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday challenged presiding judge Justice James Omotosho during his trial, insisting the proceedings could not continue because he had not filed his final written address.
A video circulating online shows Kanu directly confronting the judge in court.
Kanu argued that the court had no basis to proceed without his final address and claimed the prosecution could not rely on what he described as a repealed law.
He said, “Which law states that you can charge me on a repealed law? Show me. Omotosho, where is the law? Any judgment declared in this Court is complete rubbish”
“You don’t know the law, show me where it says you can waive the right to a final address, Omotosho, show me the law.”
Tribune Online reports that Justice Omotosho had, on 7 November, fixed today for judgment.
Justice Omotosho fixed the date after Kanu’s defence was foreclosed following his insistence that he would not enter his defence under repealed laws.
The judge held that Kanu, having exhausted the six days allocated to him by the court to conduct his defence, had waived his right to do so.
The judge said he would have extended the days allocated to Kanu to conduct his defence if he had opted to open it.
He said Kanu, having failed to utilise the opportunity given to him to conduct his defence, could not claim to have been denied the constitutionally guaranteed right to fair hearing.
