Court orders Nnamdi Kanu to open defence in IPOB trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the no-case submission filed by the legal team of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice James Omotosho held that the Federal Government had successfully presented sufficient witnesses and evidence to warrant Kanu entering his defence.

The no-case application, which sought to have the charges struck out on the grounds of insufficient evidence, was therefore rejected. The court subsequently directed Kanu to proceed with his defence.

Earlier in the day, the IPOB leader was brought to court under the escort of Department of State Services (DSS) operatives. He arrived alongside his lawyers, led by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu G. Agabi (SAN).

On Monday, the court had shifted the date for hearing the application from October 10 to September 26, enabling Justice Omotosho to deliver a ruling. The main terrorism trial is still scheduled to continue on October 10, 2025.

This development comes weeks after Justice Musa Liman, sitting as a vacation judge, adjourned Kanu’s request to be transferred to the National Hospital for medical treatment. Liman’s tenure expired at the end of the judges’ vacation, halting further proceedings at the time.

In that case, Kanu’s brother, Emmanuel, filed a 14-paragraph affidavit stating that the IPOB leader suffers from a severe heart condition and that the medical facilities made available to him were inadequate.

During the hearing, Kanu’s counsel, Uchenna Njoku (SAN), told the court that the government’s lawyers had served a 37-page counter-affidavit only hours before the session, leaving insufficient time for a response. Njoku requested an adjournment, a move supported by government counsel Adegboyega Awomolo, who said his team was ready to argue but acknowledged the timing issue.

Justice Liman noted the urgency of the matter, describing it as one that could involve “life and death,” but said his authority as a vacation judge was ending. He returned the case to the Central Registrar for reassignment, which led to Justice Omotosho taking it up.