A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a final opportunity to present his defence in his terrorism trial.
Justice James Omotosho emphasized the duty of the court to provide the defendant sufficient opportunity, but warned that failure to comply by the next adjourned date, which is November 7, would result in the case being closed without his defence.
Nnamdi Kanu is standing trial on charges related to terrorism and treasonable felony. His case is highly sensitive, as his pro-secessionist movement, IPOB, has been designated a terrorist organization by the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Kanu was originally arrested in 2015, jumped bail in 2017, and was controversially re-arrested and extradited from abroad in 2021.
The current legal standoff centers on Kanu’s persistent refusal to enter a formal defence, maintaining his position that the charges against him are invalid. The prosecution argues that Kanu has already forfeited five of the six allotted days for his defence.
We had adjourned till today for the defendant to put in his defence or be deemed closed. But, I am bound to give him another opportunity to put in his defence… I will give the last opportunity to the defendant to put in his defence, failure which he would be deemed closed – Justice Omotosho
In addition to this, the judge recently issued a warning to Kanu’s former lawyers, now referred to as ‘consultants,’ against making public statements or social media posts regarding the case.
The trial is now at a crossroad, where the outcome will be dependent on the decision of Kanu to present a defence on November 7. Should he refuse to enter a defence, Justice Omotosho will be forced to foreclose the case and proceed to judgment on the basis of the evidence already presented by the prosecution, potentially bringing the case closer to its end.
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