A tense moment unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday when the presiding judge seized the phone of Mrs. Favour Michael Kanu, the sister-in-law to IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over allegations of unauthorized video recording.
According to reports by IgbereTV, Mrs. Kanu was accused of attempting to stream a live video from within the courtroom shortly after the court session had ended and the case adjourned to April 2.
In an emotional reaction, Mrs. Kanu told ABN TV that her phone was confiscated despite her clarification that she did not record any part of the court proceedings. “They have seized my phone! The judge threatened to charge me with contempt for recording,” she stated. She also took to Facebook to express her frustration, writing, “Well, my phone is gone.”
Despite her defense, the judge insisted that recording within court premises without explicit permission violates court protocols, and any such act is grounds for contempt proceedings.
The incident occurred during ongoing hearings involving Nnamdi Kanu, whose legal battles continue to garner both national and international attention due to their political and human rights implications.
Legal analysts have reiterated the importance of respecting courtroom rules to maintain order and dignity in judicial proceedings, especially in high-profile cases such as this.
