By peterside Rejoice
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a final opportunity to open his defence in the terrorism charges filed against him by the Federal Government.
Presiding Judge, Justice James Omotosho, issued the warning on Tuesday after Kanu again refused to open his defence, insisting there was no valid charge against him.
Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), dismissed his legal team during the October 23 sitting and chose to represent himself. When the matter came up again on October 27, he told the court that he had reviewed his case file and found “no charge” against him.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Omotosho recapped the case history and invited Kanu to make his submission. However, the IPOB leader maintained that the terrorism charges against him were invalid and unconstitutional.
“In Nigeria today, the constitution is the supreme law; there is no provision for terrorism offence in the constitution. There is no valid charge against me,” Kanu declared in court. “The Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act has been repealed. I cannot put in defence under a repealed law.”
Kanu also described his continued detention as illegal, alleging that the court had violated a Supreme Court judgment which denounced his extraordinary rendition from Kenya.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), told the court that all the issues raised by Kanu had already been addressed in the charges and dismissed his submission as baseless.
Awomolo said the document Kanu submitted to support his argument was “useless” because it was neither signed nor stamped.
Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, stated that both the defendant’s motion and the prosecution’s response would be addressed in the court’s final judgment. He appealed to Kanu to reconsider his position and enter his defence, “in the name of Almighty God,” advising him to seek legal counsel on the matter.
“It is in your own interest to defend yourself or call witnesses,” the judge cautioned. “You have one final opportunity to do so on November 5. If you fail, the court will proceed as prescribed by law.”
The session turned tense as Kanu raised his voice, accusing the court of attempting to “stampede” him into trial.
Prosecution counsel, Awomolo, later urged the judge to “stop acting like a bishop pleading with the defendant,” prompting brief laughter in the courtroom.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case to November 5, 2025, warning that if Kanu again refuses to open his defence, he would forfeit his right to do so.
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