Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja took firm action on Tuesday, ordering Favour Kanu, sister-in-law to Nnamdi Kanu, to leave the courtroom after she was caught live-streaming the ongoing proceedings.
The incident occurred during a session involving the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who is currently facing terrorism-related charges from the Nigerian government.
Justice Omotosho, who is presiding over the case, noted that Favour Kanu violated court rules by broadcasting live footage from inside the courtroom via her social media account.
The judge stated that while her behavior could have resulted in a contempt of court charge, he was persuaded to take a more lenient route after hearing pleas from Kanu’s lead lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
“I want to hear from her. Were you not the one that I took your phone?” Justice Omotosho said. He also mentioned that no formal order had been given to seize the device, adding, “I don’t know if she might be a wife to my brother (Nnamdi Kanu).”
In response, Favour Kanu admitted her wrongdoing and apologized to the court, promising not to repeat the act. As a consequence, the judge ordered her to stay away from the next three court sessions.
Meanwhile, during the same court proceedings, a witness identified only as PW-AAA, a Department of State Services (DSS) operative, testified during cross-examination.
The witness, whose real name was concealed for safety reasons, revealed that Simon Ekpa — a known supporter of Nnamdi Kanu currently based in Finland — might soon be extradited to Nigeria to face charges connected to his role in the Biafra movement.
PW-AAA also recalled the 2015 arrest of Kanu in Lagos, stating that no weapons were found on Kanu or the woman with him at the time. However, the DSS officer noted that a significant amount of materials, including electronic devices and documents linked to IPOB, were recovered, suggesting the potential for activities beyond peaceful advocacy.
